17-year-olds charged with murder as adults in Dayton deadly attempted break-in

Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. JIM NOELKER/STAFF FILE

Credit: JIM NOELKER

Credit: JIM NOELKER

Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. JIM NOELKER/STAFF FILE

Two 17-year-old boys are facing murder charges in adult court after a man was shot and killed during an attempted break-in last year in Dayton.

A grand jury indicted Lamar Russell and Ezekiel Dennis on one count each of murder, attempt to commit aggravated burglary, improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation and tampering with evidence and two counts of burglary in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.

They’re both scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.

The charges stem from the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Aaron Washington on Nov. 10.

Around 11 a.m., Dayton police responded to a shooting in the 3300 block of West Second Street.

Five people, including four juveniles, reportedly tried to break into a home when the resident fired a gun while still inside.

Washington was struck in the head. He was taken to the hospital and died on Nov. 13.

“When the shooting occurred, they had went to the residence there, dismantled the Ring cameras that were outside the residence and tried to force their way into the residence,” said Dayton police Maj. Brian Johns.

They also were reportedly involved in a similar break-in a week earlier on Kammer Avenue.

The four juveniles were taken to the Juvenile Justice Center. About a week after the attempted break-in, Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. announced his office was filing a motion to transfer three of the teens to adult court.

Montgomery County Juvenile Court Judge Julie Bruns approved for Russell and Dennis to be transferred to adult court on April 4.

The third teen, who was 16 at the time of the incident, will remain in the juvenile system, the prosecutor’s office said.

While none of the juveniles shot Washington, Ohio law states defendants are responsible for any death that happens while a crime is being committed.

“Once again, we have juveniles committing serious and violent crimes,” Heck said during a press conference in November. “In this case, it resulted in the shooting of one of the accomplices. We simply will not allow juveniles to commit violent crimes in our community.”

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