Faith Fortune

Faith Fortune was a 19-year-old woman from Tiffin, Ohio, remembered by friends as funny and bold. A family friend who had known her since birth described her life as being "full of energy, life, and love." She had attended North Central Academy and Buckeye Central, and was affectionately known to some as "my faith bug." Her life was cut short in a violent encounter far from her hometown.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, November 2, 2025, Faith was in an apartment building on East 98th Street on Cleveland’s East Side. At around 12:30 a.m., a shooting was reported inside the complex, which was operated by the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). When police and paramedics arrived, they found Faith unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene from what the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office would later confirm was a single gunshot wound to the head.

Officers from the CMHA police, assisted by Cleveland police, responded to the scene. Shortly after arriving, they apprehended a suspect, a 34-year-old man, inside the same apartment complex. He was taken into custody in connection with the shooting, though authorities did not immediately release his name. The investigation was turned over to the Cleveland police.

News of Faith's death, which a family friend called a "senseless and tragic murder," devastated her loved ones back in Tiffin. A GoFundMe campaign was organized by Jose Arias, a close friend of Faith's mother, Desiry Fortune, to help cover the costs of bringing Faith home for a proper burial. The fundraiser sought to relieve the financial burden on her grieving mother and ensure Faith could be laid to rest with dignity in her hometown. Donations were also directed to the Shook Family Funeral Home in Tiffin.

The 34-year-old man arrested at the scene was subsequently charged and prosecuted for Faith Fortune's murder. Following a trial, he was convicted of the crime and sentenced for her death. With the conviction and sentencing, the case is now considered closed.