Cleveland leaders address summer safety plan after violent weekend

CLEVELAND (WJW) — It was a violent weekend in the city of Cleveland. Police responded to several shootings that left three people dead.

“So we had approximately 10 incidents this weekend to include three homicides,” said Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz, Cleveland police public information officer.

One of the homicides involved an alleged suspect in a carjacking of an Amazon driver that took place Saturday afternoon near West 48th Street. The preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect approached an Amazon driver, attempting to carjack the vehicle. Shots were fired during the interaction and investigators say the suspect drove away in the Amazon vehicle but crashed shortly after.

Sources tell the FOX 8 I-Team those suspects may have been involved in other carjackings prior to that incident.

“Through the use of technology, investigative skills, we were able to quickly gain some very strong leads,” Diaz said. “We are confident we will be making some arrests here shortly.”

The violent weekend has left many residents concerned about the upcoming summer months.

City safety officials say they are working on a plan right now to help reduce violent crime in the coming weeks and this summer.

Cleveland Safety Advisor Phillip McHugh says the plan will include all city departments.

“We are going to have all hands on deck, every city department is going to be engaged in some form or fashion,” McHugh told the I-Team Monday. “That means everything from making sure street lights are on, to trash being collected, abandoned autos being towed, high grass being mowed, everything that encompasses public safety is going to be the focus for this summer.”

Mayor Justin Bibb and other city officials are expected to release the full details of the summer safety plan in the next few weeks.

“This is a vibrant city, it has  a lot to offer,” McHugh said. “We want to see people walking the streets and  we want them to feel safe.”

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