Ryan Place suspect to appear in court
October 23, 2016
One of four arrested suspects in the murder of a Kent State student is scheduled to appear in the Portage County Common Pleas Court Tuesday morning.
Akron resident Damantae Graham, 19, is convicted of six felony charges, including aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery and two counts of kidnapping, according to Portage County court records.
All charges except the aggravated murder charge are first-degree felonies, with the potential for a prison sentence of three to 11 years, the Record-Courier reported.
The three other suspects include Massillon resident Marquis Grier, 18, Stow resident Ty Kremling, 18, and Medina resident Anton Planicka, 18 — all of whom face the same charges.
The charges follow the shooting death of Kent State freshman Nick Massa in an apartment at Ryan Place apartments in Kent back in February.
Kent City Police reported the suspects broke into the apartment, brandished weapons and stole property from several victims. When Massa confronted them, he was shot and killed, according to the Record-Courier.
All four suspects have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and will be tried as adults.
Graham’s trial begins at 8:45 a.m. in Judge Laurie Pittman’s courtroom.
Alex Delaney-Gesing is a senior reporter, contact her at [email protected].