Man guilty of manslaughter

CLEVELAND (AP) — A man was convicted of the less serious offense of involuntary manslaughter Monday in the death of a 12-year-old girl caught in sidewalk crossfire.

A jury refused to find Eric Wilson, 36, guilty of murder in the Sept. 1 death of Asteve’ “Cookie” Thomas of Cleveland. Besides involuntary manslaughter, Wilson was found guilty of felonious assault and possession of a weapon by an ex-convict.

Wilson was involved in a gunfight with a man accused of robbing him. James Yhonquea, 20, of Cleveland, accused of firing the shot that killed the girl, goes on trial Feb. 27 on an aggravated murder charge.

Prosecutors said Wilson also was responsible because he participated in the gunfight.

Cookie had been returning from a candy store when she was caught in crossfire.

The shooting stirred an emotional response in Cleveland, which has seen frequent episodes of gun violence. Mayor Frank Jackson went to the neighborhood to embrace the slain girl’s mother, and the girl’s funeral drew hundreds of mourners.

Wilson fled after the shooting and was arrested near Kalispell, Mont., 10 days later.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy McGinty scheduled sentencing for Tuesday. Wilson could get 23 years in prison.