Two teenagers have pleaded guilty to their involvement in the robbery and subsequent fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man in Springfield Township earlier this year. The plea agreements ensure that both individuals, who were 16 at the time of the June 2025 incident, will be adjudicated within the juvenile justice system. Prosecutors have withdrawn their earlier requests to transfer the cases to adult court.
The case centers on the tragic death of Morgan Myers, who was shot and killed inside his vehicle. The identities of the teenagers are being withheld due to their ongoing cases remaining in juvenile court. Authorities have identified one teen as a resident of Cheviot and the other as a resident of Springfield Township.
Unfolding of a Fatal Encounter
During separate hearings in Hamilton County Juvenile Court on December 16th, prosecutors presented new details surrounding the events that led to the robbery and shooting.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Jim Morrison, one of the teenagers initiated contact with Myers with the stated intention of purchasing marijuana. However, Morrison revealed that the teens had, in fact, “concocted a plan” to rob Myers instead. The agreed-upon meeting time was approximately 10:30 p.m. in a Springfield Township neighborhood.
A Struggle Culminates in Tragedy
Upon Myers’ arrival at the designated location, one of the teenagers entered the front passenger seat of Myers’ vehicle, while the other occupied the rear seat.
Morrison described a struggle that ensued within the vehicle. During this altercation, the teenager in the front passenger seat discharged a firearm, striking Myers in the chest.
Following the shooting, both teenagers fled the scene, taking with them cash, marijuana, Myers’ cellphones, and Myers’ firearm. The weapon used in the crime has not yet been recovered.
Juvenile Justice and Sentencing
Both teenagers have admitted to a charge of aggravated robbery. However, only one of the teens has confessed to aggravated murder. This individual is slated to be held in a state youth correctional facility until they reach the age of 21, which represents the maximum period of confinement permissible under current law for juvenile offenders.
The second teenager is scheduled to appear before Judge Kari Bloom on January 22nd. Judge Bloom has a broad spectrum of sentencing options at her disposal, ranging from placement in a youth prison or other secure detention facility to probation.
Family’s Profound Grief and Impact
Morgan Myers was one of nine siblings. On December 16th, three of his sisters, his brother, his mother, and his father were present in court to read their victim impact statements. They eloquently conveyed the devastating and permanent changes the loss of Morgan has wrought upon their lives.
Jason Myers, Morgan’s father, addressed the teenager responsible for firing the fatal shot, expressing the profound depth of his loss. “You not only took my first-born child, you also took my best friend,” he stated. He further lamented, “That night, you destroyed so many lives.”
Morgan Myers’ mother, Casey Lay, shared her ongoing daily grief. Addressing the teen, she said, “You also killed a piece of me that I will never get back.” The family’s statements underscored the far-reaching consequences of the violent crime, highlighting the enduring pain and shattered lives left in its wake.
