CLEVELAND — A 17-year-old murder suspect has surrendered within hours of Cuyahoga County and federal officials holding a press conference warning the public of the alleged danger he posed to the community.
The U.S. Marshals Service says Antonio Baker turned himself in late Thursday afternoon. County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley and Marshal Pete Elliott had earlier asked the public for help in locating the juvenile.
"The suspect actually was in communication during our press conference with one of my deputies and called him," Elliot told 3News later in the evening.
According to Elliot, Baker was seen Wednesday walking up and down streets wearing a ski mask and carrying a rifle. When he surrounded he told authorities why.
"He told us that most of the people around him were dead, all of his friends were dead and it was time for him to surrender," Elliott said.
According to O'Malley, Baker has allegedly shot three individuals in the span of five weeks. Additionally, officials believe that Baker was shot near East 18th Street and St. Clair Avenue on Monday, as he was at University Hospitals for treatment. When approached by police, Baker allegedly fled.
One of the incidents that Baker was allegedly involved in dates back to Sept. 20, when a 22-year-old man riding his bike away from Arbor Park was shot and killed by three suspects.
The full press conference can be watched below (EDITOR'S NOTE: A video played during the press conference could be "disturbing to some viewers"):
On Wednesday night, U.S. Marshals officials were searching for Baker and the two other suspects involved in the Sept. 20 shooting. Upon investigation, it was determined that a 15-year-old suspect was shot and killed on that evening. Additionally, a third suspect, 18-year-old Bryce Tanksley, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals.
"It highlighted the fact that we need to get Antonio Baker off the streets before he is either shot or killed…" O'Malley noted in his remarks. "It is critical that we have the public's support in finding him. It is our understanding that he is extremely armed and that we find him to be dangerous."
Below is a list of all of the incidents that Baker has allegedly been involved in:
March 21 and April 13
Kidnapping, aggravated robbery of firearm
Police say that Baker allegedly stole a gun on March 21 and bragged about it on social media. He jumped a victim in a backyard and pulled a gun, preventing the victim from leaving.
August 7
Attempted murder
Shot a victim three times in the abdomen
August 20
Attempted murder
Shot a victim six times
September 20
Aggravated murder
Baker and two other suspects allegedly shot and killed an individual riding a bicycle away from a playground at Arbor Park.
O’Malley also said Baker is the 36th juvenile this year to be charged with aggravated murder, bringing the total above the number of juveniles charged in 2022.
