A third suspect in the April shooting death of a 17-year-old Maryland high school student has been arrested.
Elias Cieslak was shot behind Rock & Toss Crab House in Nottingham in what investigators described as a drug deal and armed robbery gone bad on April 23, the Baltimore Sun reported. Cieslak died of his injuries at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center.
Police arrested David Dionte Lofton, 32, and a juvenile on June 28, charging both with first degree murder, armed robbery, and use of a firearm in a felony. A grand jury later indicted Lofton on 10 counts, and he was ordered held without bond.
The third person was arrested on Thursday, according to Baltimore County Police. The charges and the name of the suspect were not immediately available.
Police called to the scene after the shooting found Cieslak suffering from gunshot wounds, charging documents for Lofton say. They also found another man who had been with Cieslak nearby. That man told them that he met with Cieslak to buy marijuana, but two people approached “an announced a robbery at gunpoint.” Cieslak was shot, but the other man said he was able to flee on foot.
Further investigation revealed that the man had actually planned to use counterfeit money to buy the marijuana, and that he, Lofton, and the juvenile planned to rob the teen.
According to the charging documents, Lofton admitted that he and the juvenile robbed Cieslak.
“Lofton described a chain of events, which was consistent with video surveillance obtained, but he was unclear who possessed the firearm, although he heard the gunshot,” the documents said.
Cieslak’s father, Juan Cieslak, told the Sun he plans to start a foundation in his son’s name to support families affected by gun violence.
“I don’t think just because he was involved in a little bit of weed that he was a bad person,” he said. “He had a lot going for him and it got taken away over something petty and stupid.”
Lofton’s next court date is July 28.
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[Featured image: Elias Cieslak/Evans Funeral Chapel]
