A 22-year-old Akron man was sentenced to 10 years in prison this week for the November 2015 shooting death of a 19-year-old Akron man.
Under an agreement with prosecutors, Jovonte A. Veal pleaded guilty Monday to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter with a gun specification. Prosecutors dropped the other charges against him.
James Kimbler, a visiting judge in Summit County Common Pleas Court, sentenced Veal to seven years for involuntary manslaughter and three years for the gun specification, for a total of 10 years.
Veal’s trial was scheduled to begin Monday.
Veal was arrested for the Nov. 15, 2015, shooting death of Jaleel Jovon Woods of Akron. A passer-by found Woods’ body on the side of the road at the intersection of Cordova and Courtland avenues in West Akron. Woods suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Following up on tips, detectives brought in Veal for questioning and then arrested him. Veal originally was charged with aggravated murder, murder, having weapons while under disability and possession of cocaine.