Fourth teen pleads guilty in sandbag death

TOLEDO — The fourth and final Ohio youth to face charges for the death of a Michigan man who died after a sandbag was thrown over an I-75 overpass in December entered multiple guilty pleas on Friday in Lucas County Juvenile Court.

Demetrius Wimberly, 14, pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the death of Marquise Byrd, 22, of Warren, Michigan. He was a passenger in a vehicle who died after the vehicle was struck by the sandbag on Dec. 19 in Toledo.

The teen also pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, a firstdegree felony, and two counts of vehicular vandalism, a seconddegree felony and a misdemeanor offense.

The other three who were involved — Pedro Salinas, 13, Sean Carter, 14, and William Parker, 15 — previously entered guilty pleas in Byrd’s death. All are to be sentenced April 6 by Judge Denise Navarre Cubbon.

The four boys were walking to a store when they crossed the Indiana Avenue overpass of I-75. They began throwing rocks at cars, according to the prosecutor.

Carter has admitted in court to throwing the first sandbag off the overpass. Salinas admitted to throwing the sandbag that hit the passing car.

Byrd was hit in the head and neck by the sandbag, which came through the windshield of the car.

The boys ran from the scene and went to buy candy, it was learned during their pleas. Afterward, they walked back along the overpass, where they were met by police. They later learned the second sandbag that was thrown had caused a man to die.