Ohio Man Sentenced To Death For Killing Teenagers In Front Of Mom

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, OH — Matthew Nicholson has been sentenced to death for killing two teenagers. Nicholson, 30, was found guilty of aggravated murder on October 11.

“There can be no greater form of abuse than killing someone’s children in front of them,” said Prosecutor O’Malley. “Matthew Nicholson is a monster for his barbaric actions and received the sentence he rightly deserved. He was unremorseful to the very end.”

According to prosecutors, on September 5, 2018, Nicholson got off work and drove to his girlfriend's house on E. 86th Street and Garfield Boulevard in Garfield Heights. After getting to her house, the couple got into an argument and Nicholson attacked her, hitting her in the face multiple times.

The woman's son, Manuel Lopez, 17, tried to step between the couple. Nicholson and Manuel then fought until Nicholson left the house to get a gun. Manuel called the police.

As Nicholson retrieved his gun, Giselle Lopez, 19, got home from work. Her mother told Giselle and Manuel to run outside. As they ran, Nicholson fired 13 shots at them, hitting Manuel and Giselle multiple times.

Manuel died near the house. Giselle was taken to the hospital and rushed into surgery. She was declared dead shortly thereafter, prosecutors said

Nicholson was arrested after a four-hour standoff with a SWAT team.

Garfield Heights police, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office investigated the killings. They found that Manuel had been shot eight times and Giselle had been shot four times, while attempting to run from Nicholson, prosecutors said.