Suspects Indicted In Steubenville Murder

Three men have been indicted with the murder of 28-year-old Joshua Ryan Sweat of Weirton early Saturday morning in downtown Steubenville.

[CHERYL]

My question is why is the Prosecutors going for the death penalty in this case and the young lady, Camay Youngblood, that was stalked and murdered case is not asking for the death penalty? I believe our Steubenville Police Dept. if doing a wonderful job, but we need more funds to put more officers on the street. There are kids hanging around stores on the hilltop and little children out in the streets playing all hours of the night. People trying to snatch children in broad daylight and sexual predators all over the area. Let's continue to clean up the streets of Steubenville and make our community a more safe and liveable community, safe for everyone.

[Police Chief]

These were blacks killing a white kid in a drug deal. Don't you know blacks always get the death penalty?

[rampant_lion75]

Dosen't someone who shoots someone in the back of the head deserve the death penalty? White or black? I agree with Cheryl, the other person deserves the death penalty as well. I also agree that Steubenville is a mess. I used to run around the area with Josh. He was my best friend. Things are out of control there. Everyone knows who's dealing the drugs there but nothing gets done. I don't know if they lack the resourses or if it's a lack of desire to do anything that keeps things the way they are there but it just keeps getting worse. How afraid can people be of the cops when they don't hesitate to shoot someone in the head less that 120 feet from the police station door? No one there takes the cops serious. There's gotta be a reason for that.

[rampant_lion75]

This thing says I'm from conneticut because I'm on the road there right now.

[ses2x2]

I just can't believe people can get shot 2 doors from a police station. I know the sheriff is trying, but these guys that killed Josh Sweat needs their balls cut off. Black or white, it doesn't matter. Murder is murder. I never believed anyone but God has the right to say when we die, but times have changed. People are getting worse and why should we pay to keep criminals like this in jail for the rest of their lives. Just ends theirs lives now. They took Josh's. I don't know if there is anything in the bible that says anything like that.

[Joshs Sister]

Police Chief wrote:

These were blacks killing a white kid in a drug deal. Don't you know blacks always get the death penalty?

I am Josh Sweat's sister, and I can not believe you made this a race issue. It has nothing to do with my brother's killers being black. It is about them planning a robbery and then shotting an unarmed man. There was three of them and one of my brother who was not armed. I think your comment is sick!

[Bush is Lucifer]

Police Chief is just another demonic racist cop. Satan works through cops like that and also through the jerks that killed Josh.

[Tuxster]

Joshs Sister wrote:

<quoted text>
I am Josh Sweat's sister, and I can not believe you made this a race issue. It has nothing to do with my brother's killers being black. It is about them planning a robbery and then shotting an unarmed man. There was three of them and one of my brother who was not armed. I think your comment is sick!

Sick or not, statistics don't lie.

Statiscally, when it comes to capital/aggravated murder cases, prosecutors seek the death penalty for black defendants at much higher rates than for white defendants.

[Chuck D]

Look at Joshua's father's eyes in the video. Look at the pain these murderous thugs caused this family. Justice in America is supposed to be for the family of the victims. All these liberals argue to save this thug's life, and by the vary nature of their arguments continue to neglect and feel for the family. Execute him and his friends that were there. People say the death penalty doesn't detour crime. The American death penalty doesn't detour crime because liberals have made it so difficult to execute guilty cold blooded murderous thugs. You know Clifford didn't even think about the repercussions of his actions. He was thinking I can get away with it, I probably already have twice before. He's admitted guilt. NOW EXECUTE HIM....

[John]

"Statiscally, when it comes to capital/aggravated murder cases, prosecutors seek the death penalty for black defendants at much higher rates than for white defendants."

But you are leaving out a very important factor. I have done research in this and while you are correct, the fact is White's are "statisically" involved in heat of passion(accidental) and spousal murders than blacks who are involved much more often in cold blooded/random acts of violence - MANY of which drugs and illegal weapons are also involved.

There are differences in sentencing guidelines in each different "version" of murder. And you HAVE to take that into account as well when looking at the racial death penalty rates.

[Kelly]

My heart goes out to the family of Joshua Ryan and all the others who have been murdered.No one knows the pain of losing a loved one to a murder.Its not a race thing because my son is half black and was murdered in Steubenville Oho,Jan 21,2007 and we still have not recived any justice for Joshua Schoonover.NO one deserves to be murdered! I dont care who you are.The human race is what makes this world a messed up place to live.

[tim cincinnati ohio]

i do feel real bad for the family of the victim and it was messed up what tony did but i grew up with him and he was always a real laid back dude and never caused any trouble. it had nothin to do with race either because im white and my other good friend who me and tony hung out with everyday was white. i really dont understand why he woulda did this though i never ever woulda expected this from tony clifford. he was always respectful to my mom and dad and whole family i really didn know anybody tony didnt get along with.yea its murder and its terrible but i want everybody to know something aint right here he was a good dude as long i knew him. my heart goes out to the family of josh and i hope to see ya when ya get out tony.

[rampant_lion75]

tim cincinnati ohio wrote:

i do feel real bad for the family of the victim and it was messed up what tony did but i grew up with him and he was always a real laid back dude and never caused any trouble. it had nothin to do with race either because im white and my other good friend who me and tony hung out with everyday was white. i really dont understand why he woulda did this though i never ever woulda expected this from tony clifford. he was always respectful to my mom and dad and whole family i really didn know anybody tony didnt get along with.yea its murder and its terrible but i want everybody to know something aint right here he was a good dude as long i knew him. my heart goes out to the family of josh and i hope to see ya when ya get out tony.

Laid back?? More like stone cold. Everyone saw what happend in the courtroom when Mike (Josh's dad) jumped the table and tried to get at Clifford. What they didn't see is what happened off camera when everyone had been taken out of the court room and they took Mike to a seperate room to cool down. "Tony" was being walked past the room they had Mike in and he looked at Mike through the glass in the door and smiled. Like he was proud of himself for what he did. I also know people who have been locked up with your buddy Tony who have heard him brag about it. Yeah he's real laid back. If I ever had the chance he'd be laid back permanently.
But the death pealty is too good for him. Real justice would be to kill someone he loves. Then he would know what those of us who love Josh are going through. It's almost three years now and sometimes I think it's worse now than it was then.
I'm not a heartless thug like Clifford is. So don't anyone misconscrew this as a threat against his family. I just hope everyday is total hell for him in prison. I wish him nothing but pain and misery. He took my friend...no, my brother and he deserves a lifetime of pain.