Isaiah Martin

Isaiah Martin, a one-year-old Black boy from University Heights, Ohio, was described by his family as one of the happiest babies anyone knew. His aunt said he brought joy to many people’s lives, especially his mother, Arielle Martin. His family adored him, but their time with him was tragically cut short.

On the evening of April 20, 2019, Isaiah was inside a home in the 14200 block of Rexwood Avenue in Cleveland’s Corlett neighborhood. Around 6:20 p.m., police were called to the house for a shooting involving a child. Officers found Isaiah with a gunshot wound to the head. He was rushed to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner later ruled his death a homicide.

Investigators quickly determined the shooting was likely accidental. They identified the person who fired the gun as Isaiah’s 10-year-old cousin. The boy, who was not publicly named, was never charged with a crime. Isaiah’s mother was present in the home when the shooting occurred.

The focus of the investigation turned to the 10-year-old’s mother, Brittney Nicole McTier. Though she was not home at the time of the shooting, a warrant was issued for her arrest. Authorities charged her with endangering children and obstructing justice, stating that her refusal to tell them who owned the gun or who brought it to and removed it from the house hindered their investigation.

Ultimately, Brittney McTier pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and endangering children for her role in the death of her nephew. She was sentenced to four years in prison, bringing the legal proceedings in the case to a close.