Cleveland Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Five People Back in 2014

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CLEVELAND– A man pleaded guilty to the deaths of five people in a house on Cleveland’s east side in 2014.

James Sparks-Henderson, 21, was charged with multiple counts of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, felonious assault and aggravated robbery.

Sparks-Henderson pleaded guilty to killing live people and trying to kill two children during a hearing Wednesday afternoon.

“We are expecting a sentence of life in prison with no parole,” defense attorney Rufus Sims said.

While giving his statement, a family member of one of the victims attacked Sparks-Henderson. The man was quickly surrounded by deputies and escorted out of the courtroom, while the suspect was taken away.

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office said Sparks-Henderson shot and killed five people inside a house on East 92nd Street near Wade Park on Nov. 21, 2014.

The victims were Lemon S. Bryant, 60; Sherita Johnson, 41; Ja’Rio Taylor, 19; and Shaylona Williams, 17. Johnson was seven months pregnant at the time of the shooting. Her 9-year-old daughter was also shot, but survived, and her 2-year-old son was unharmed.