Man Wanted in Connection to Death of 12-Year-Old Arrested by U.S. Marshals

Youngstown, OH –  Earlier this morning, members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) arrested Brandon T. Kennedy, 31. Kennedy was wanted by the Youngstown Police Department for aggravated vehicular homicide and aggravated vehicular assault.

On November 17, 2023, Kennedy was operating a motor vehicle while driving at a high rate of speed in a residential area of Youngstown, OH. Kennedy failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Juanita Ave and Alameda Ave, striking a car driven by a civilian as it passed through the intersection. A 12-year-old boy who had been a passenger in Kennedy’s vehicle died as a result of the crash.

Yesterday, the Youngstown Police Department issued a warrant for Kennedy and officers with the NOVFTF initiated a fugitive investigation for Kennedy. Within a day of the warrant being issued, Kennedy was arrested at an address in the 20 block of Broadview Ave in Girard, OH.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Tragically a 12-year-old was an innocent victim in this horrific incident. The first step in the pursuit of justice for that child occurred today when our task force took this fugitive into custody.”

Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous. Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland.  

The NOVFTF Youngstown Division consists of the following federal, state and local agencies:  Boardman Township Police Department, Campbell Police Department, Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, Liberty Township Police Department, Lordstown Village Police Department, Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, Mercy Health Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Salem Police Department, Trumbull County Adult Probation Department, Warren Police Department, Youngstown Police Department, and United States Marshals Service.