Three men plead guilty in shootout that led to girl’s death

CLEVELAND (AP) — Three men involved in a Cleveland shootout that left a 9-year-old girl dead four years ago have pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Dyshawn Bonner, Damaris Perry and Timothy Greene entered their pleas Friday. They each face lengthy prison terms when they’re sentenced June 8.

The men were among seven adults and teenagers charged in connection with the June 2018 shootout. Another defendant also pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, while two others pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence. Charges are still pending against the seventh defendant, whose trial had been scheduled to start Monday but instead was continued, according to Cuyahoga County prosecutors.

Authorities have said people traveling in a stolen car drove by the gym and opened fire on a group standing on the corner outside the building. People in the group returned fire, and at least 15 gunshots were fired overall during the shootout.

The shooting occurred shortly after Saniyah Nicholson’s mother had stopped at a gym to pick up her 14-year-old son. Saniyah and her 20-year-old sister were waiting for them in the mother’s car when the shots rang out, and the stray bullet struck the child in the forehead, killing her instantly.