Simone Biles’ brother charged in connection with fatal shootings in Ohio

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles’ brother charged Thursday for his alleged involvement in a triple murder in Ohio on New Year’s Eve.

Tevin Biles-Thomas, 24, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of homicide, involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault and one count of perjury, the Cleveland Division of Police and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Biles-Thomas allegedly took part in the shooting that occurred soon before midnight on Dec. 31 at a party at an Airbnb rental apartment up a pizzeria in the Brooklyn Centre part of the city, the report says.

However, This shooting happened after a group of people showed up to the party uninvited and were required to leave, Cleveland.com reported

Devaughn Gibson, 23, DelVaunte Johnson, 19, and Toshon Banks, 21, were each shot multiple times and pronounced dead after the gunfire. Two other men were hit in the shooting but persisted the report states.

Simone Biles’ brother charged

“The investigators within the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit remained committed to securing an arrest in this tragic case,” Cleveland police Chief Calvin D. Williams said in a statement. “We appreciate our partnership with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and are confident that their efforts will bring justice for the families affected by this terrible incident.”

Researchers told a Cleveland apartment operating an Airbnb was hosting a New Year’s Eve party when an “uninvited group” began, according to WKYC-TV. An event then occurred and gunshots were fired, leaving three people dead. Police believe Biles-Thomas is the shooter.

Nevertheless, Biles-Thomas, who is on active duty with the Army, has been charged with six counts of murder, three counts of voluntary manslaughter, five counts of felonious assault and one count of perjury, according to prosecutors.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley congratulated Cleveland police after the arrest in Georgia, which came after about eight months of investigation.

“The relentless persistence of Cleveland Police Homicide detectives helped secure an indictment in this case,” O’Malley said in a statement. “It is through their hard work that we can begin to seek justice for these victims.”

Biles-Thomas is being held at Liberty County Jail in Hinesville, Georgia. An arraignment is set for Sept. 13 in Cleveland, although it is unknown when he may be extradited.

Simone Biles

Simone Biles is the most decorated American gymnast, with more than two dozen Olympic and World Championship medals to her name.

Born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, gymnast Simone Biles has appeared as a champion in her sport. She and her sister, Adria, were raised by their grandfather Ron and grandmother Nellie, after their mother’s fight with the substance abuse problem. 

Now, Biles-Thomas, her brother, is currently being held in a Georgia jail and is due in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court on Sept. 13. He was in the U.S. Army and attended high school in Cleveland. 

Simone, a four-time gold medal champion on the US gymnastics team, has not commented on her brother’s arrest. It was not immediately clear Friday if Biles-Thomas has a lawyer.

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