A Forest Park man will spend decades behind bars after killing a teenager who showed up at his door with his brother to address a bullying issue.
Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Patrick Dinkelacker sentenced 38-year-old Domynic Elahee to 21 years to life for the shooting death of 18-year-old Jaeden Smith. Elahee was convicted by a jury of two counts of felony murder and two counts of felonious assault.
"He was not given a chance. You owed him that; you owed him a chance, and you didn't give him a chance," said Dinkelacker, according to WLWT5.
On May 5, 2025, police officers responded to Forest Park Apartments along the 700 block of Northland Boulevard in the Greater Cincinnati area in Ohio, after reports of a shooting by neighbors. Upon arrival, Smith was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the chest. However, the victim succumbed to his injuries.
According to prosecutors, Smith had gone over to the defendant’s home with his 7-year-old brother in tow to discuss some issues related to bullying by Elahee’s son. The victim knocked, and the defendant’s 10-year-old daughter opened the door. Soon, Elahee came out of his room and fatally shot Smith right in front of both minors.
The defendant was arrested the night of the fatal incident.
During the trial, Elahee’s attorney Clyde Bennett argued he shot the victim in self-defense because he thought Smith was armed.
“This is heartbreaking. Jaeden was unarmed and attempting to have a conversation about bullying, which was the proper way to handle the situation. Now, two families’ lives are forever changed,” said Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich, reported FOX 19.
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