A mother and her 12-year-old son were fatally shot in their driveway over a blocked parking space, authorities confirmed.
The victims, 47-year-old Tania Mangual and her son Jericho, were attacked last Sunday night in Akron, Ohio.
Police said 28-year-old Brandon Casto was called by a neighbor to the scene. Upon arrival, Casto approached the driver’s side window of the Manguals’ vehicle, accused Tania Mangual of threatening his family, and opened fire.
Tania’s 2-year-old child was in the backseat at the time but was unharmed and taken to a hospital as a precaution.
Eyewitness Sabrina Glover, Tania’s best friend, described hiding on the ground as Casto fired at her but missed. She immediately called 911, which helped police track Casto.
After fleeing the scene, Casto was apprehended near the West Virginia border and later confessed to friends about the incident. Authorities recovered multiple firearms and a large quantity of ammunition from his apartment.
He is currently facing two counts of aggravated murder and two counts of felonious assault and is being held on a $3 million bond. He has pleaded not guilty.
According to police, the shooting took place near West Wilbeth Road around 8 p.m. First responders found the vehicle crashed into a tree on Hemlock Road, with Jericho dead inside from a gunshot wound. Tania Mangual was transported to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Akron Police Chief Brian Harding called the incident a “senseless act of violence” that has deeply impacted the community. Mayor Shammas Malik stressed the need to confront violence and support victims.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have not confirmed a prior relationship or motive beyond the initial parking dispute. The community continues to mourn the loss of Tania and Jericho Mangual.
