Akron, Ohio — On Saturday night, a quiet street near 30 West Wilbeth Road turned into a scene of heartbreak when a shooting left a mother and her 12‑year‑old son dead and a 2‑year‑old child shaken but physically unharmed. Police say the incident unfolded around 8:10 p.m. when multiple 911 calls reported gunfire in the neighborhood. One caller, a 49‑year‑old woman who had been shot and managed to flee, gave detectives details that helped them quickly identify a suspect. Responding officers soon found a vehicle that had crashed into trees on Hemlock Street, partly engulfed in flames.
Inside that SUV, officers discovered young Jericho L. Mangual suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene about 25 minutes later. His mother, 47‑year‑old Tania Mangual, who had been driving, also had been shot. She was rushed to the Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center but died from her injuries shortly after arrival. A toddler, also her son, was in the back seat. He was not injured and was taken to Akron Children’s Hospital as a precaution.
Police identified the suspect as 28‑year‑old Brandon T. Casto after the information from the wounded woman led detectives to him. Investigators executed a search warrant at an apartment tied to Casto and found several firearms, gun parts and a large stash of ammunition. As detectives were piecing together the case, they learned Casto may have been trying to leave the area. Law enforcement worked with the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, and Casto ultimately surrendered to authorities more than 100 miles away in Nelsonville.
Casto now sits in the Southeast Regional Jail facing two counts of aggravated murder and two counts of felonious assault. Police have not released a motive or explained any connection between Casto and the Mangual family. The Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate the shooting and the events leading up to it. Officers urge anyone with additional information to reach out as they build their case.
Community members have been shaken by the violence. Neighbors described hearing a burst of gunfire that night, followed by the chaos of emergency crews rushing to the scene. A small memorial of flowers and teddy bears has begun to grow near where the SUV came to rest, a quiet reminder of lives abruptly cut short and the young child left to grieve without his mother and older brother.
City officials have issued statements expressing sorrow and concern. Akron’s Police Chief called the shootings “senseless” and highlighted how deeply such acts affect the community. The mayor echoed that sentiment, offering condolences to the family and relief that the youngest child survived. In the days since, local residents have talked about how this tragedy underscores broader worries about violence in their neighborhoods.
