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Press Release

Akron man sentenced to life in prison for shooting woman in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio

An Akron man was sentenced to life in prison for shooting a woman in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park last year, law enforcement officials said.

DeZay M. Ely, 28, was previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of ammunition.

Ely attempted to kill a woman on July 3, 2016, by shooting her in the head, according to court documents.

U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson sentenced Ely to 20 years in prison for attempted murder, to be followed by a consecutive sentence of life in prison for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

“This defendant took a firearm into a national park and tried to murder a young woman,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “He left her with lifelong, serious injuries. Our community is a safer place with him behind bars.”

 

Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office, said: “Law enforcement is pleased that Dezay Ely will be spending the rest of his life in prison for the horrific crime he committed against an innocent victim. The collaboration between the FBI, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Service, BCI and the public was invaluable to identifying and holding Ely accountable for this senseless crime.”

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly L. Galvin and Linda Barr following an investigation by the FBI, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Police and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Contact

Mike Tobin
216.622.3651
michael.tobin@usdoj.gov

Updated October 12, 2017

Topics
Firearms Offenses
Violent Crime