A 15-year-old boy from Cincinnati is facing murder charges after allegedly shooting and killing his mother’s partner, Levonte Hyde, 30, in a violent confrontation. The incident occurred after Hyde reportedly insulted and physically assaulted the boy’s mother. The teenager is accused of firing 12 rounds at Hyde, who was found dead in his car on Pasadena Avenue in College Hill around 12:45 a.m. on Thursday, according to Cincinnati Police Department.
The incident was reportedly triggered by an earlier altercation between Hyde and the boy’s mother while they were driving. The woman, who was present at the scene of the shooting, alerted the police after the incident. The teenager, who is not Hyde’s biological son, has been charged with murder. The woman has two other children with Hyde.
Police scanner traffic, provided by Rangecast and released by local CBS affiliate WKRC, detailed the sequence of events. An officer was heard saying over the scanner that the woman had called 911 and her son was the one who shot Hyde. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene and Hyde was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The teenager appeared in court on Friday and reportedly denied the charges. Prosecutors, however, argue that the attack was premeditated. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Tatyana Reintjes with the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the teenager had time to find a firearm, open a safe, retrieve the firearm, and waited for Hyde to arrive before firing 12 shots. A request has been made to move the teenager’s case to adult court. His next court date is set for March 3.
Court documents obtained by local Fox affiliate WXIX revealed that a warrant was issued for Hyde’s arrest on Thursday for a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. A temporary protection order was also issued, requiring Hyde to stay away from the teenager’s mother after the driving incident. The couple was reportedly driving to a store on Elmore Street in South Cumminsville when the alleged assault occurred.
Court records also show that Hyde had a history of violence. He was charged with assault and criminal damaging in July 2017, with the boy’s mother being the alleged victim in that case as well. He was convicted in 2018 of the lesser charge and ordered to stay away from her.