The suspect who had previously claimed self-defense in a deadly stabbing sparked by a dispute over sports entered a guilty plea in court on Monday, April 20.
Herschel Palmore III, 28, received a prison sentence of 9.5 to 13.5 years after accepting a plea deal that convicted him of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault.
Cincinnati police said Palmore killed 21-year-old Dontarius Tre’Von Caldwell in the middle of Franklin Avenue in Bond Hill on Oct. 12, 2025.
According to court records, Palmore and Caldwell were playing video games and discussing sports in an online group chat when the conversation escalated into a heated argument about the New York Jets and the Denver Broncos. Palmore then sent his address to Caldwell and invited him over.
When Caldwell arrived, Palmore came out of his home “to engage in a fight, and stabbed and killed Mr. Caldwell” with a kitchen knife, prosecutors said.
Brandon Fox, Palmore’s attorney, said his client kept the knife at his side as a way to deter Caldwell from fighting him.
“As he described to the detectives, the reason that he did this was the hopes of scaring this individual off … and the hopes was to not have a fight. The fight ensued, and unfortunately, the knife was used in the fight. And Mr. Palmore and everyone here lost someone very important to them,” Fox told Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Jennifer Branch.
Caldwell and Palmore were friends, and after the incident, Fox said his client is “extremely remorseful.”
“I sincerely apologize for what I have done,” Palmore said, blinking away tears.
According to Fox, Palmore endured a difficult upbringing, struggling with mental health challenges and coping with the emotional impact of multiple murders in his family, including his father’s.
“In 2017, Herschel was the victim of a home invasion where three of his friends and his cousin were murdered in front of him,” Fox told Judge Branch. “Luckily, he was able to survive that, but the pain of what he witnessed and suffered that day continued on.”
Fox acknowledged that his client’s past does not excuse his actions, but instead helps explain how Palmore ended up in this situation.
‘There is no good outcome’: Families speak out before sentencing
Both the victim’s and the suspect’s families have previously lost at least one loved one to acts of violence.
Caldwell’s grandmother, Sharlee Ferrell, said the situation has been especially painful as she mourns not only her first-born grandson but also her only son, who was killed in 2023.
“And that’s just another reason why this is so devastating for me and my family,” Ferrell told the courtroom.
“He (Caldwell) was a hard worker, he worked a lot, he was a big support to his family. He liked making his money, he liked cars, he liked basketball, video games and social media. But I never dreamed up that all this social media would get him killed,” she said about her grandson.
Ferrell said the plea deal offered to Palmore feels “unjust” and like a “slap in the face” to her family.
“My grandson’s life meant a whole lot more than this. I just hope he’ll come out a better person because this is a travesty … this is just not right and it’s not fair,” Ferrell said.
Palmore’s grandparents, whose son was also murdered, spoke in court and asked for a reasonable sentence.
“On behalf of my grandson, he is a good person. Unfortunately, this thing happened– we don’t know why,” Palmore’s grandfather said. “We tried to do the best for him. It was never a pity party, it was get out on ethics and do what you have to do.”
Judge Branch said she believes Palmore regrets his actions, taking into account his “traumatic” history, while also recognizing the Caldwell family’s pain in losing their loved one.
“From my perspective, there is no good outcome here today,” she said.
She sentenced Palmore to the recommended 9.5 to 13.5 years in prison and credited him for 190 days already served.
After completing his sentence, he will be required to serve 2.5 years of post-release control.
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