YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) - Days after Youngstown City Council members agreed to settle a wrongful death lawsuit against the police department, detectives are defending their work on the case.
"I can never get in her shoes and I never want to be in her shoes, but the Youngstown Police Department did everything we can," Lt. Mohammad Awad said.
He's referring to LaJena Solomon -- the mother of 14-year-old Landon Lockhart, who was shot to death in November 2021.
"Landon Lockhart ran away from home and was picked up by a stolen car by three other juveniles. Less than four hours later, Landon was shot and killed," Awad said.
Although the victim's body wasn't recovered for another two months, his mother sued, claiming police didn't do enough to find her son.
Detectives say he had already been