CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced Jaylon Jennings, 26, pleaded no contest and was found guilty by a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge on all counts for the mass shooting that occurred on West 6th Street in Cleveland’s Warehouse District on July 9, 2023.

“What was supposed to be a fun night out in the heart of Downtown Cleveland quickly turned into a nightmare for these nine individuals and dozens of others on West 6th Street. It is a miracle that no one was killed, and more people were not injured. Our community continues to be plagued by this gun violence. This plea is a firm reminder that gun violence is unacceptable and we will hold violent crime offenders accountable in our county.”

Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

On July 9, 2023, around 2 a.m., Jaylon Jennings and Kevin Del Valle-Salaman, 25, left the Rumor Bar and Lounge located on West 6th Street in Cleveland. Jennings and Del Valle-Salaman walked to Del Valle-Salaman’s vehicle parked nearby. Jennings then retrieved a firearm and walked back to West 6th Street. He waited for some of the victims to exit Rumor Bar and Lounge and then fired multiple shots in their direction.

Nine victims were shot including seven male victims (one 23-year-old male, one 24-year-old male, two 26-year-old males, one 27-year-old male, one 29-year-old male, and one 38-year-old male) and two female victims (one 23-year-old female, and one 24-year-old female). Four of the male victims were shot in the right leg, one male victim was shot in the lower back, one male victim was shot in the right forearm, and one male victim was hit several times including in the thighs, right wrist, left hand, and groin. The two female victims were shot in the legs. Eight of the victims appeared to be part of a targeted group of friends and an additional victim standing nearby was also struck.

Immediately after the shooting, both Jennings and Del Valle-Salaman ran back to Del Valle-Salaman’s vehicle. Del Valle-Salaman, the driver of the vehicle, and Jennings then fled the scene. The Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) and the Cleveland Division of Emergency Medical Service responded to the scene and the victims were transferred to a nearby hospital and treated for their injuries.

The investigation was conducted by CDP and revealed that the shooting was targeted and not random. On July 1, 2023, Jennings was arrested and on July 15, 2023, Del Valle-Salaman was arrested.

Jaylon Jennings was found guilty by a judge on the following charges:

  • Nine counts of Attempted Murder
  • 18 counts of Felonious Assault
  • Two counts of Having a Weapon Under Disability
  • One count of Grand Theft
  • One count of Receiving Stolen Property

Jennings will be sentenced at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center on September 3, 2024, at 10 a.m.

 

On January 9, 2024, Kevin Del Valle-Salaman pleaded guilty to the following charges:

  • One count of Tampering with Evidence
  • One count of Obstructing Justice

Del Valle-Salaman will be sentenced at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center on a later date.