Akron man will be sentenced to life in prison for fatal 2022 shooting

AKRON, Ohio – An Akron man who pleaded guilty to the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old man in 2022 was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday.

Martell King, 28, is eligible for parole after serving at least 15 years in prison, Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich says in a news release. He was placed in the Ohio violent offender database and must register annually for the next 10 years.

King pleaded guilty Aug. 30 to murder in the death of 26-year-old Jamier Harris of Akron.

“Martell King shot and killed Jamier Harris,” Kolkovich said in a statement. “He appears to feel no remorse for what he did and the community is safer with him in prison.”

King is the second person convicted and sentenced in connection with Harris’ death. On September 25, 27-year-old Leslie Lopez was sentenced to seven to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in February. Lopez is also on Ohio’s violent offender database and is required to register annually for the next 10 years.

Harris was shot on Jan. 29, 2022, while standing on the porch of a home in the 2100 block of 12th Street SW, north of Kenmore Boulevard and east of Interstate 76. He died at Akron General Medical Center.

Prosecutors say Lopez and King conspired to kill Harris because Harris owed King money. According to prosecutors, King fired a total of 11 shots.

“After two and a half years, there is justice for Jamier Harris’ family,” Kolkovich said. “I want to thank the Akron Police Department for their hard work and the U.S. Marshal’s Service for tracking down Martel King in North Dakota and Leslie Lopez in Mexico and bringing both back to Summit County to face a judge.”