CLEVELAND, Ohio — Three suspects were charged in connection to the shooting Thursday of undercover Cleveland police Det. James Skernivitz, 53, and Scott Dingess, 50, who is the man said to be Skernivitz's informant.

What You Need To Know

  • Three suspects have been charged in the killing of Cleveland police Det. James Skernivitz

  • David McDaniel Jr., 18, was charged Tuesday morning with felony murder

  • A 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were charged for murder in juvenile court

David McDaniel Jr., 18, was charged Tuesday morning with felony aggravated murder in Cleveland Municipal Court.

According to an affidavit for McDaniel’s arrest, he and two other juvenile suspects allegedly approached Skernivitz and Dingess behind Roses Discount Store at 3250 W. 65th Street and attempted to rob them. They allegedly shot and killed the two men in the course of the attempted robbery, according to Det. David Borden's statement in the affidavit.

A 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were charged in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court with 11 counts including aggravated murder, robbery, and assault, according to a complaint filed Tuesday.

Three suspects were in custody Friday, Cleveland police said, followed by two additional arrests, according to multiple news reports. A warrant was issued for the sixth suspect, the 15-year-old. He turned himself in Tuesday, according to a statement from Cleveland police Tuesday afternoon. The three original suspects arrested have not been charged.

 

Skernivitz and Dingess were found shot in an unmarked police vehicle and were rushed to MetroHealth Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Police said the shooting occurred on Sept. 3 around 9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m. near West 65th Street and Storer Ave.

Following the incident, a car crashed into the fence of a nearby playground.

The investigation is ongoing. The FBI set up an award of $35,000 for tips in the case.

Rodneya Ross contributed to this report.