“Cleveland Mother Desperately Seeks Justice Five Years After Son’s Murder”
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) — Five years have passed since a young Cleveland father was gunned down in front of his home, and the shooter remains at large.
Erica Ingram, the mother of the victim, Rakeem Ingram, continues to seek justice for her son. On the fifth anniversary of his death, she expressed the profound impact the tragedy has had on her life.
“It’s like a hole in my heart,” Ingram shared. “I don’t think I’ll ever get over this. I can’t sleep. I’m constantly up and down, and I’ve developed PTSD. It’s becoming harder to function at work due to frequent meltdowns, always wondering, ‘Why him?’”
Rakeem Ingram, 24, was shot and killed on W. 32nd Street on September 16, 2019. According to witnesses, he was on the phone when two men in a dark SUV approached. The passenger exited the vehicle and shot him six times. Ingram reported that her son’s cell phone and work ID were missing, and she believes police have not recovered them.
Ingram suspects her son was not the intended target. “He didn’t know anyone in that area. I believe he was mistakenly targeted,” she said. She noted that Rakeem had recently moved to the area after being released from prison and was focused on rebuilding his life, securing a job, and reconnecting with his daughter.
“He specifically asked not to live in Cleveland due to safety concerns, but was compelled to return due to legal constraints, only to be killed the next day,” Ingram added.
Cleveland police have provided no new updates on the case. It is being investigated by special detectives in the homicide unit who focus on unsolved cases and collaborate with the FBI to uncover new leads.
Ingram expressed frustration over the lack of communication from detectives. “Some say it’s harder to endure a courtroom replay, but we deserve to know that justice is being pursued. It feels like the person who killed him is walking around freely,” she said.
FBI crime data indicates that in 2022, the Cleveland Police Department solved less than 10% of homicides, a sharp decline from a decade ago when the solve rate was 60%.
Ingram criticized the police for not returning her calls, although they stated that they prefer focusing resources on investigating the case rather than providing updates when there is no new information.
“The lack of communication is disheartening,” Ingram said. “You don’t have the resources to make a brief call to the families?”
Police have informed 19 News that a trauma care specialist will be reaching out to Ingram’s family this week.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Cleveland police homicide unit.
