AKRON, Ohio — A 29-year-old Akron man, Byron Johnson, has been sentenced to 18 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to the 2023 murder of 32-year-old Darnell McGrady, along with charges of vehicle theft and robbery.
Johnson changed his plea to guilty on Sept. 3, just weeks before his scheduled trial. According to the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, he admitted to charges of murder, aggravated burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and a firearm specification.
In return, prosecutors dismissed several additional charges, including a second count of murder, robbery, two counts of felonious assault, and other firearm-related counts.
Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Jennifer Towell handed down the sentence. Johnson will be eligible for parole after serving 18 years. His defense attorneys, Edward Smith and John P. Alexander, said the crime was deeply influenced by mental health and substance abuse issues.
“This was a very sad case in which, if it wasn’t for mental health issues exacerbated by substance abuse, this tragedy would not have happened,” Alexander stated. “He was extremely remorseful and ultimately took responsibility for his actions.”
Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich called the incident “tragic and senseless,” adding, “While nothing can bring Darnell back, I hope this conviction allows his loved ones to take another step forward in the healing process.”
The events unfolded on November 21, 2023, when McGrady invited Johnson to his Akron home. After about an hour, Johnson took McGrady’s firearm from a nearby table and fatally shot him multiple times, according to prosecutors.
Johnson then fled in McGrady’s vehicle and drove to an acquaintance’s house on Silvercrest Avenue. Once there, he asked for money. When the woman turned her back, Johnson broke through her storm door, physically assaulted her, and stole $176.
Authorities located Johnson using the GPS system in McGrady’s stolen vehicle, tracing him to a home on Storer Avenue. Akron Police and SWAT responded, and after Johnson barricaded himself inside, he was arrested.
The robbery victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Barberton Hospital. Johnson’s violent spree ended with his capture, and now, a lengthy prison sentence.
