The curtain has been pulled back for jury members in Eric Wilson Jr.'s trial. Lima’s resident gang expert took the stand to close out the state’s case against Wilson.

Before the jury began deliberating they heard from Det. Steven Stechschulte who has advanced training on gangs. He says gangs operate to further there interests, typically by way of violent crimes. He noted, not all people affiliated with gangs are violent people.

The shooting on Cole Street and Edgewood Drive in 2019 stemmed from the killing of Christian Laws, a week prior on June 14, 2019. Stechschulte says Laws was East Side and Jolade “JoJo” Omosikeji is North Side. In fact, stechschulte says he investigated five shootings following the days after Laws death.

A man accused of a murder last year agrees to a negotiated plea.

Jolade Omosikeji has pleaded guilty to an amended charge of involuntary manslaughter with a three year firearm specification. His five other charges including murder have been dismissed.

He's pleaded to shooting and killing 19-year-old Christian Laws. It was June 2019 when police found Laws lying in a yard in the 2400 block of Lark Avenue. Police believe this shooting may have sparked the alleged shooting Jamaree Allen and Eric Wilson Jr. are charged with. Omosikeji will be sentenced Sept. 24.

A Lima man who is accused of a deadly shooting in June is now facing multiple charges. 20-year-old Jolade "Jojo" Omosikikeji was indicted by an Allen County Grand Jury on two counts of murder, one count of felonious assault, two counts of discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises, and carrying a concealed weapon. The Allen County Sheriff's Office arrested Omosikikeji in late June and charged him with the murder of 19-year-old Christian Laws. Laws was found shot to death lying on a lawn in the 2400 block of Lark Avenue on June 14th.

The man charged in the shooting death of a Lima teenager did not make his appearance in court on Monday.

The Allen County Sheriff's Office says they have arrested the man who they believe was responsible for the murder of 19-year-old Christian Laws. 20-year-old Jolade Reginald Omosikeji Jr., also known as JoJo was taken into custody at an apartment in the 1100 block of Adam Lee Place earlier Tuesday evening. Detectives from both Allen County Sheriff and Lima Police Department, along with the Allen County SWAT, were following up on an anonymous tip that Jolade was at the residence.

Over the past couple of weeks, Lima has seen a rash of gun violence, but this is an issue that the Black Ministerial Alliance says they are ready to tackle. Reaching out to the young men in the community and letting them know that they are appreciated is what one pastor says would be the first step to putting an end to this problem.