News

Actions

Jury recommends death penalty for man convicted of killing three at Warrensville Heights barbershop

Posted at 11:06 AM, Nov 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-19 11:59:10-05

A jury unanimously decided that Douglas Shine Jr. should be sentenced to death for the triple slaying at a Warrensville Heights barbershop in 2015. 

He will be formally sentenced by a judge on Dec. 5 at 11 a.m.

Shine, a 21-year-old Cleveland man, could be seen looking placidly at the judge while the jury's decision was read. He was charged with aggravated murder for the triple slaying at Chalk Linez in Feb. 2015.

In February 2015, police responded to a shooting at the barbershop and found three dead. Walter Lee Barfield, a 23-year-old Cleveland man, Brandon White, a 31-year-old Warrensville Heights man, and William Gonzalez, a 32-year-old Garfield Heights man, were killed in the shooting. Gonzalez owned the barbershop. 

RELATED: Man faces trial in triple slaying at Warrensville Heights barbershop

Shine and Kevin McKinney were arrested in connection to the murders. Both were indicted on several charges, including aggravated murder, aggravated burglary and murder. Police say the two men orchestrated the killing of a witness to the barbershop shooting - 32-year-old Aaron Ladson. 

Ladson was found shot in the head of the driveway of his grandmother's home in June 2015. Months earlier, he was a witness to the barbershop shooting that left his brother, Brandon White, dead. 

Shine initially plead not guilty to the charges. Authorities say he's a member of the Heartless Felons gang and previously served two years in prison on robbery and weapons charges.