15-Year-old Cleveland Teen Charged As Adult, Accused Of Attempting To Hit Police With Stolen Car

A Cleveland teen, who authorities claim was shot by police officers after attempting to run them over in a stolen car, has been charged as an adult.

Jahmez Johnson, 15, faces six counts of first-degree felonious assault, failure to comply, receiving stolen property, and other offenses stemming from the December 14, 2024 incident. The Cuyahoga County grand jury returned the indictment on Friday.

He was 14 when the incident occurred.

If convicted, Johnson could spend decades in prison. He would also become one of the youngest inmates in Ohio’s prison system, with only 26 under the age of 18 this summer, according to state data. The state houses almost 45,000 inmates.

This was his second case bound over from the county’s Juvenile Court. He made his initial appearance in Common Pleas Court last Thursday, pleading not guilty to aggravated robbery, felonious assault, receiving stolen property, and other counts stemming from an incident on October 10, 2024.

A judge set Johnson’s bond at $100,000 and appointed attorney Andy Petropouleas to represent him. Petropouleas, who has stated that he expects to win both of Johnson’s cases, declined to comment on the accusations Monday.

Johnson is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing before Common Pleas Judge Ashley Kilbane on September 17.

Before being detained in December, he was suspected of at least 30 auto break-ins, according to authorities. The break-ins coincided with a statewide increase in Kia and Hyundai vehicle thefts. The fad was sparked by social media, when criminals took the title “Kia Boyz.”

The thefts have decreased when automakers implemented anti-theft software installs.

On December 14, officers reported seeing three kids in a stolen Kia Sportage parked in the driveway of a vacant residence on East 146th Street. The Kia raced away, evading authorities, before eventually returning home.

According to authorities, Johnson was asleep in the driver’s seat when officers discovered him.

According to officers, Johnson awoke, put the vehicle in gear, and rammed a police cruiser before attempting to force it out of the way with the Kia. According to authorities, he then reversed, collided with a garage, and drove toward officers, one of whom fired a shot.

Johnson, who was injured in the shoulder, received treatment at a nearby hospital. He had ripped off an electric ankle monitor that he had been ordered to wear while awaiting prosecution for earlier car break-ins, according to investigators.

Police say they found a handgun inside the Kia. Johnson’s charges include firearm sentencing enhancements. That means if convicted, he may face additional prison time for possessing the firearm.