Death Sentence For Man Convicted Of Double Homicide In Cleveland

CLEVELAND —Joseph McAlpin has been sentenced to death for the murders of two people at a Cleveland car dealership.

McAlpin was previously found guilty of the killings of Michael Kuznik, 50, and Trina Tomola, 46. The jury recommended the death penalty for McAlpin. On Tuesday, a judge ordered the 31-year-old McAlpin to be put to death.

“This horrific crime has forever broken the hearts of the family and friends of Michael and Trina Kuznik,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley. “Twelve citizens of this county and now a judge have determined the death sentence was the only appropriate punishment. Given the facts and circumstance of this case, I wholeheartedly agree.”

According to prosecutors, McAlpin and two other men, Andrew Keener and Jerome Kiggs, went to the Mr. Cars dealership in Collinwood, owned y Kuznik and Tomola, with the intention of stealing cars. They wanted to split the profits between themselves, prosecutor argued.

The three men parked on Windward Road and McAlpin walked into the dealership by himself. At approximately 5:30 p.m. he shot Kuznik twice in the head, near the front of the dealership showroom, prosecutors said. McAlpin then shot Tomola once in the head, in an office in the back of the building. The family dog, Axel, was also shot in the head and was found near Tomola, according to testimony.

McAlpin then walked onto the lot and stole a BMW, prosecutors said.

Kuznik's and Tomola's were discovered after they didn't return home to their children. Cleveland Police and EMS arrived on the scene after the children called 911. Kuznik and Tomola were pronounced dead at the scene.

The jury found McAlpin guilty of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, kidnapping, murder, felonious assault, grand theft, cruelty to animals, injuring animals, and having a weapon under disability.