Anita has lost three sons to gun violence, some perpetrated by juveniles. One of the killers was sentenced to life in adult prison. Anita’s fourth son is also serving time in adult prison for an armed robbery spree when he was 17. One scenario represents justice while the other does not, Anita believes.CLEVELAND, Ohio – The first time Anita Deal mourned a son’s death was in 2017. Her 18-year-old was shot in a car.
Anita, of Euclid, has one son left. He’s in prison for a crime spree at 17, involving armed robberies of two Cleveland delivery drivers and two Lakewood carjackings. Seven years ago, Anita’s house buzzed with testosterone-infused energy. There was Mark, the oldest, who loved videogames and science projects. Then Martell, the family prankster and avid basketball hooper. Next, Doug, a fine student, close to Martell. Last, Maurco, a budding musician who helped neighbors with odd jobs. Anita worked as a grocery store chef.In 2017, Martell, 18, was driving through Cleveland’s East Side with 15-year-old Doug in the backseat.
But Doug seemed fascinated by gang life. Though he denied membership, his comments worried the officer, who hinted at a root cause: Doug “is taking the death of his brother particularly hard,” she reported. Eventually, Anita’s wish came true. Doug was caught and arrested. Charged with four armed robberies in a two-week span, he was later transferred to adult court, where he pleaded guilty to the robberies, plus criminal gang activity. He was sentenced to nine years in prison.Sleepless nightsMark, then 23, had been a person of faith, but after the killing, he abandoned it. He told Anita that if he were to die, he didn’t want a religious eulogy.
Maurco had been visiting with a friend when someone fired seven shots from an SUV, mistaking her youngest son for someone else, investigators said. An hour later, three suspects, ages 18, 17 and 16, posed for photos in front of the SUV with a gun.