News

Actions

Family, friends remember homicide victim

Posted at 11:50 PM, May 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-06 00:06:35-04

Hundreds gathered to remember Dejon Forbes on Thursday night, the victim of a deadly shooting outside a Cleveland Heights bar earlier this week.

"He has no idea what he has done to my family. No idea. And for no reason," Gena Forbes, Dejon's mother, said tearfully. 

Forbes was found shot in his car around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of the Sunny Spot Lounge on Noble Rd. in Cleveland Heights.

In a police report, witnesses say a crowd formed outside right after the bar closed and they saw one guy throw a few punches.

Then, they heard eight to 10 gunshots and seconds later, everyone got into their cars and sped off.

When police arrived, they found Forbes bleeding in the driver's seat of his car, a bullet through the back windshield.

"He didn't deserve it," said his aunt, Mona Sanderfer. "He was trying to make it into his car to get away."

Tuesday night, police took Antonio Longino into custody, later charging him with tampering with evidence in the case.

Sources say the 23-year-old was set to join the Bengals rookie camp as an undrafted free agent this week.

Longino posted his $100,000 bond and was released from the Cleveland Heights jail.

Then, around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Stephen Johnson, 28, turned himself in to Cleveland Heights police. 

Johnson is now behind bars, charged with aggravated murder. He pleaded not guilty in court Thursday morning.

Forbes leaves behind a one-year-old daughter. His family has started a GoFundMe to help with the unexpected funeral costs.

It's not the first time violence has touched the Forbes family. Dejon's dad was murdered 24-years ago today.