Riley Jones Obituary, Death – A 20-year-old woman who was fatally shot outside an AutoZone store early Monday morning has been officially identified as Riley Jones of Shaker Heights, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The tragic incident took place in the parking lot of the AutoZone located in the 300 block of Broadway Avenue in Bedford. According to Bedford Police Deputy Chief Rick Suts, the shooting stemmed from a dispute between Jones and 22-year-old Darien Hobley of Maple Heights. The argument escalated, and Hobley allegedly shot Jones once in the chest during the confrontation.
Following the shooting, Hobley reportedly entered the AutoZone store and instructed employees to call emergency services. He then fled the scene on foot before officers arrived. When police got to the location, they found Jones unresponsive in the parking lot. Emergency medical services rushed her to a nearby hospital, but she was later pronounced dead from her injuries.
Authorities quickly launched a search for Hobley and were able to locate him shortly afterward on Magnolia Avenue, a nearby street. Deputy Chief Suts credited the swift arrest to the fact that Hobley’s vehicle was blocked in by another car, making it impossible for him to drive away. This forced him to flee on foot, which allowed officers to apprehend him relatively quickly.
“Fortunately, his car was not drivable at that moment because it was blocked in,” said Suts. “That helped us track him down fast.”
Hobley is now in police custody and is expected to appear in Bedford Municipal Court for his arraignment on Tuesday morning. Authorities have not yet disclosed what led to the argument or whether the two individuals had any prior relationship.
The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement officials work to gather more details surrounding the events that led to the fatal shooting. No further information has been released at this time.
