TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Emotions ran high in the case of three teens accused of dragging a Woodward High School student to death, over a pair of shoes.
The teens faced Judge Amy Stoner on Thursday, who sent a stern warning to everyone in the courtroom.
Judge Stoner didn’t like what happened before she entered her courtroom and took the bench.
“I will first note I’ve been made aware there’s been some disruption in this courtroom prior to my entering. I will note that if this continues or surfaces again, I will only permit the defendants’ families and the victim’s mother and father to be present in the courtroom,” said Judge Amy Stoner.
Tempers flared between the victim’s and the suspects’ families.
“I don’t understand what they would be upset with us about, their babies killed our baby,” said Joaquin Simmons’ cousin.
The prosecutor told the judge that the papers to certify the teens as adults have been filed. Now‚ she’s working on providing the defense lawyers with evidence in the case.
“This is a large case containing a large volume of information,” said Juvenile Chief Prosecutor Patricia Wardrop.
The Springfield High School students are charged with aggravated murder in the death of Joaquin Simmons, also known as Wak.
In March, police responded to Streicher and Mulberry on reports of a robbery.
They found Simmons lying in the road.
He suffered a traumatic brain injury and died a few days later in the hospital.
Investigators said Simmons met with the other teens to sell shoes through Facebook Marketplace. An argument broke out over the price.
One of the suspects allegedly grabbed the shoes from Simmons and grabbed Simmons by the hair as the driver took off, dragging Wak along the road.
Outside of the juvenile courthouse, the victim’s family held signs and yelled, ‘Justice for Wak.’
His cousin, who didn’t want to show her face, said she misses him dearly.
“His laugh and his hugs,” she said.
Judge Amy Stoner also banned the woman from the courtroom after she made a comment.
“It’s already an emotional roller coaster grieving, but when you’re grieving and it was somebody murdered in front of you. Then you’re going to sit here and act like you didn’t do what you did. It’s a whole different type of roller coaster. I don’t care about being banned,” she said.
The defense attorneys asked the judge to release the teens, but their request was denied.
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This article was published by WTVG on 2025-05-08 18:27:00
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