A 16-year-old Akron girl hadn’t seen her aunt since she collided with a firetruck last July, killing her cousin and another close friend.
She faced her aunt during her sentencing in Summit County Juvenile Court Tuesday, and tearfully apologized for the death of her cousin, 16-year-old LaShae Johnson.
“I do love you so much,” she said to Shoskamika Risper, LaShae’s mother, sobbing. “I’m so sorry that this happened. I didn’t do it on purpose.”
Risper, herself battling tears, sadly nodded her head in agreement.
This emotional exchange was part of the teen’s two-hour sentencing that included sobbing, shouting and one family member being asked by a deputy to step out of the courtroom for failing to keep his comments to himself.