New weapons charges against Akron man released from prison for 2007 gang-related shooting death

AKRON, Ohio - The Akron man released from prison earlier this year, for the 2007 shooting death of a teen girl outside an Akron nightclub, is facing new weapons charges.

Tyree Feaster, 22, was arrested Saturday night, accused of tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property and felony weapons charges.

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, Feaster was arrested around 10 p.m. on Moeller Avenue after Akron police responded to a call in the area for gunfire.

After a brief foot chase, Feaster was caught by authorities who said he threw a 9mm pistol during the pursuit. The gun turned out to be stolen, the newspaper reported.

The 22-year-old was released from prison in February, after spending four years in jail for the admitted gang-related shooting death of Shawrica Lester.

On Jan. 26, 2007, gunfire erupted outside the Cage nightclub when a group of teens were kicked out for fighting inside. On Feb. 12, 2007, Feaster was charged with murder in juvenile court and admitted to the shooting.

Feaster later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, among other charges, and was sentenced to spend several years in the Mansfield Juvenile Correctional Institution. An adult jail sentence was suspended, provided Feaster didn't get into trouble while locked up.

But in Nov. 2007, court documents detail Feaster participated in fights and a riot in Mansfield and the court motioned to invoke his adult sentence. Three years later, Feaster's lawyers filed paperwork to withdraw his guilty plea because the sentencing judge forgot to tell Feaster he would be on probation after his release from prison.

The Supreme Court of Ohio agreed and ordered the case be retried because of the procedural error. Prosecutors reopened it and began interviewing witnesses, but since it was gang-related, no one would talk. Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh then dismissed all charges against Feaster, citing an "epidemic of amnesia by the few eyewitnesses."

The office continues to investigate leads and because prosecutors dismissed the case without prejudice, they can "refile the charges if witnesses choose to come forward in the future."

Meanwhile, Feaster is behind bars at the Summit County Jail. His arraignment is scheduled in Akron Municipal Court for 9 a.m. Monday.

A check of court records indicates Feaster has also been slapped with a drug charge stemming from an April 26 incident.

The Feaster family also made headlines in Aug. 2011, when Tyree's older brother, Garrick Feaster, was shot to death behind a building parking lot on the city's west side.