Police: Man tried to kill co-defendant in armed robbery

A 21-year-old CLEVELAND— man tried to kill his co-defendant in an armed robbery case in Cleveland by ambushing the man in his driveway and shooting both him and awoman inside his car, according to police.

Kaylen Jason of Cleveland is charged with attempted murder in theNov. 24 shooting of his co-defendant, Devontae Smith. Jason is being held in the Cuyahoga County Jail on $1 million bond after his first court appearance.

Jason shot Smith because he believed Smith “ratted him out” in connection with ahomeinvasion inFebruary, according to court records. Bothmenare charged in the robbery case.

In thearmedrobbery case, a gunman, later identified as Jason, walked into Smith’s apartment, pointed a gun at Smith and two 19-yearold men and robbed them, according to police and court records. The robber stole two phones and wallets before letting the group leave unharmed, according to police.

Thenextday, Smithposted images of himself on Instagram holding a gun police believewas used in the robbery, while joking about the incident. Investigators wrote in court records they believe Smith set up the 19-year-old men to be robbed by Jason.

Chargeswere filed against Smith on Feb. 18 and hewas arrested nine days later by MayfieldHeights police. He posted $50,000 bond and was released. He skipped his August arraignment in Cuyahoga CountyCommon Pleas Court and a judge revoked bond.

His attorney, Christopher McNeal, successfully argued for his release from the jail. McNeal wrote in court records that the case against Smith was “tenuous at best” and that investigators relied solely on the Instagram post. Smith pleaded not guilty and the judge ordered Sept. 2 he be released with a GPS-monitored ankle bracelet.