Edward J. Suggs, a lifelong resident of Lorain, Ohio, was a beloved father, grandfather, and the eldest of twelve siblings. Known to many as "Ole School" or simply Ed, the 56-year-old Black man was a well-regarded member of his community. Born on January 15, 1964, he was a cherished part of a large family, leaving behind his mother, numerous children, and many siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends who mourned his sudden and tragic loss.
The evening of August 7, 2020, was warm, and Suggs was doing what he often did: sitting peacefully on his own front porch in the 1800 block of Garden Avenue. Across the street, a fight broke out, and the dispute escalated into gunfire. During the argument, a young man fired a gun. A stray bullet from that weapon traveled across the street and struck Suggs. He was an innocent bystander, caught in a moment of violence that had nothing to do with him.
The single gunshot wound proved to be fatal.
The Lorain Police Department quickly identified a suspect in the senseless killing: 20-year-old Israel Dominguez II. Investigators determined that Dominguez had fired the shot that killed Suggs before fleeing the scene. A warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge of murder, and the U.S. Marshals Service joined the search. The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force publicized the case, warning that Dominguez should be considered armed and dangerous and offering a reward for information leading to his capture. His last known address was on Washington Avenue, just a few miles from where the shooting occurred.
After a manhunt that lasted several months, Dominguez was apprehended in Lorain by the U.S. Marshals in January 2021. He was subsequently indicted on multiple charges, including murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence. The community, which had been on edge since the shooting, was relieved to hear that a suspect was finally in custody.
In October 2022, Israel Dominguez II pleaded guilty to an amended charge of involuntary manslaughter with a three-year firearm specification. He also pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence. By pleading guilty, he avoided a trial on the original murder charge. His defense attorney stated that Dominguez was remorseful for his actions and had been praying for the Suggs family. The prosecutor noted that while Dominguez did not intend to kill Suggs, he was responsible for his death by firing a gun during a fight.
In February 2023, a Lorain County Common Pleas Court judge sentenced Israel Dominguez II to a prison term of 14 to 19 and a half years. The sentence included 11 to 16 and a half years for involuntary manslaughter and a consecutive three years for the firearm specification. He was also ordered to serve 36 months for the tampering with evidence charge, which will run concurrently with the manslaughter sentence. In addition to his prison time, Dominguez was ordered to pay over $6,500 in restitution to the Suggs family to cover funeral expenses. The case is now considered closed, with justice served through the conviction and sentencing of the man responsible for Edward Suggs' death.
