Gunman That Killed Clevelander, Shot Lakewood Jogger Sentenced

LAKEWOOD, OH — A man that shot and killed a Salvation Army worker before stealing a car and shooting at joggers in Lakewood has been sentenced to prison. William Jones' crime spree came to an end in the Metroparks in 2017.

On December 2, Jones shot and killed Jared Fier-Plesec, 21, in the lobby of the Euclid Beach Villa. Plesec was dressed in his Salvation Army uniform and was discussing the Bible with a resident when Jones walked up to him and shot him point blank in the head. Plesec was killed instantly.

“The murder of Jared Plesec and subsequent crime spree has impacted numerous families and communities throughout this county,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley. ”It is fitting that he received life in prison without the possibility of parole, and more than a century consecutive to that for good measure.”

After killing Plesec, Jones ran from the apartment complex and tried to carjack two men at gunpoint on E. 156th Street. The driver of the car didn't stop and Jones fired three rounds at them. He still didn't get the car.

So Jones then robbed a woman on the street of her car. He drove to the E. 72nd Marina and robbed a 53-year-old man of his car.

Finally, Jones drove his stolen car to Lakewood. As he was speeding through the Metroparks near the Lakewood and Rocky River border a group of joggers shouted for Jones to slow down. Jones then stopped his car and started shooting at the runners. He hit a 36-year-old woman in the leg. She suffered serious injuries, according to the prosecutor's office.

As he was trying to get out of the Metroparks, Jones tried to carjack a fourth person. He failed. His gun was empty, so he threw it into a field, where it was later found by police.

Jones did manage to steal a pick-up truck on Sloan Avenue in Lakewood. It was unoccupied and the keys were in the ignition. He drove the truck through the city until he abandoned it in front of Marine Towers on Edgewater Drive.

Jones walked into the Marine Towers parking garage where he attacked a 56-year-old woman, throwing her to the ground, and then stole her car. He drove the car through the closed garage doors and then hit several cars on Edgewater Drive. Finally, Lakewood Police apprehended him.

Photo from Shutterstock