MAHONING COUNTY Akron man admits guilt in man's shooting death

The shooting was apparently set off by an argument over remarks made to a woman.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County authorities planned to put Chawn Cloyd on trial Tuesday because of a July 23 shooting that left one man dead and another injured.
But Tuesday morning, Travalas T. Hammonds pleaded guilty to the crimes. Cloyd will still go to prison, though.
That's because Cloyd and Hammonds are one and the same.
"He uses both names," said Robert Andrews, an assistant prosecutor.
The plea document lists the defendant's name as Cloyd with Hammonds as an alias. He signed it as Hammonds.
Cloyd, 23, of Akron, was indicted in August on charges of murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence.
What happened
Police say he pulled out a gun during an argument outside a house on Monroe Street in Campbell and shot 19-year-old Glenn Land II of Jefferson Street, Campbell, in the chest, killing him.
Jermaine Stroughter, 23, of Pasadena Avenue, Youngstown, was grazed in the back by a bullet.
Andrews said the argument was apparently sparked by comments Cloyd had made to a woman. Stroughter was preparing to fight Cloyd when the shots were fired.
A trial on the matter was to have begun Tuesday in common pleas court, but Cloyd opted instead to plead guilty to reduced charges of involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault.
The evidence-tampering charge was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Cloyd also pleaded guilty to a pair of firearm specifications, which will add three years to any sentence he receives from Judge Robert Lisotto.
If Judge Lisotto imposes the maximum sentences, Cloyd could get up to 21 years in prison.
bjackson@vindy.com