A 26-year-old man has pleaded guilty in the July 2023 killing of Ernestine Stallings, Akron police Lt. Michael Murphy said in a news release.
Jontae Watkins pleaded guilty to aggravated murder with a three-year firearm specification in connection with Stallings’ shooting death outside the Dollar Tree store at 2246 W. Market Street.
Watkins is scheduled to be sentenced Monday, Oct. 27.
What happened in July 2023?
Stallings and her girlfriend were loading birthday balloons into their vehicle on July 3, 2023, when Watkins, armed with a rifle, approached Stallings from behind and shot her multiple times. She was transported to Cleveland Clinic Akron General where she was pronounced dead. She was 34.
“This case highlights the tireless work of our detectives and their commitment to seeking justice for victims and their families. We hope that this plea brings closure and a sense of peace to her family and friends,” Murphy said in a statement.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com, or on Twitter @athompsonABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Man accused of killing Ernestine Stallings outside of Dollar Tree in 2023 pleads guilty
Reporting by Anthony Thompson, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
