Lyric Melodi Lawson

Lyric Melodi Lawson, a funny and bright six-year-old Black girl from Cleveland, Ohio, was described by her family as being full of life with a great personality. A first-grader at Hannah Gibbons-STEM School, Lyric was the middle of three sisters and was loved by her family, who would never get to see the person she would grow up to be.

In the early morning hours of October 5, 2019, Lyric was asleep in her bed at her family’s home on East 171st Street. She was surrounded by her two sisters and three cousins when a car drove by and occupants opened fire on the house. The home was riddled with nearly 30 bullets in the drive-by shooting. One of the bullets struck Lyric in the head. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. One of her older cousins was also grazed by a bullet.

Cleveland police began investigating the shooting, seeking information about a dark-colored vehicle seen driving away from the scene. The community held vigils and marches in Lyric’s honor, calling for an end to gun violence and urging anyone with information to come forward. About a month later, investigators identified 21-year-old Raysean Howard as a suspect.

An arrest warrant was filed for Howard on November 13, 2019, charging him with aggravated murder. U.S. Marshals later located and arrested him in Tennessee. The investigation continued, and in March 2021, authorities identified and charged a second suspect. Angel Cannon, 22, was accused of being the driver of the car during the shooting. She was charged with aggravated murder and pleaded not guilty.

In May 2021, Raysean Howard pleaded guilty to the fatal shooting of Lyric-Melodi Lawson and was sentenced for his role in her death.