Rashawn Brinkley

Rashawn Brinkley, a 40-year-old Black man, was killed on the evening of January 20, 2025, in East Cleveland, Ohio. He was sitting in a car parked in a driveway in the 1700 block of Shaw Avenue when a 2019 black Dodge Ram pickup truck reportedly pulled into the front yard beside him. The driver of the truck then allegedly began shooting into the car where Brinkley sat. He was struck twice in the head and died at the scene.

The East Cleveland Police Department investigated the homicide and identified David Wayne Garner, a 40-year-old man with an extensive criminal history dating back to 2002, as the suspect. Authorities issued a warrant for Garner’s arrest on a charge of aggravated murder. After the shooting, Garner allegedly fled in his pickup truck and began life on the run, evading police on multiple occasions. As the search continued, Crime Stoppers offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to his capture.

On February 19, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force adopted the case and intensified the search for Garner. The manhunt lasted for over a month as the task force worked to track his movements. On the morning of March 24, 2025, authorities located Garner in the 2200 block of Brockway Road in the nearby city of Cleveland Heights, where he was taken into custody.

Following the arrest, U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “This type of violence has no place in our community, and it’s a top priority to make sure violent criminals such as this are taken off the streets as quickly as possible. We are proud of the work of our team today.” As of Garner's arrest in March 2025, he faces a charge of aggravated murder for the death of Rashawn Brinkley, and the case is proceeding through the court system.