Trial set for one of two charged with murder in Liberty Twp. shooting

One of the two men charged with murder in June shooting death in Liberty Twp. will go on trial in October.

Butler County Common Pleas Judge Charles Pater set a five-day trial date this morning for 25-year-old Tyree Jeffery Cross, of Cincinnati, from Oct. 26 to 30. A pretrial conference is set for Oct. 13.

Cross is one of three charged in the shooting death of Riah Milton, a 25-year-old Cincinnati woman who detectives say was “lured” to a Liberty Twp. park so the suspects could steal her Camaro. A fight ensued, and Milton was shot to death in the 6000 block of Spruce Creek Drive. The suspects drove away in Milton’s car, which was eventually ditched in West Chester Twp.

Cross is also charged with two counts of felonious assault and two counts of aggravated robbery.

One of Cross’ co-defendants, Kaleb Marshall Tooson, 18, of Liberty Twp., also charged with murder and two counts each of felonious assault and aggravated robbery, had his court appearance this morning continued until Aug. 4.

Both are being held in the Butler County Jail on $1 million bonds.

On Monday, the third person involved — a 14-year-old Lakota East student — was sentenced to six months of home confinement for her role in the Liberty Twp. shooting. The juvenile had her six-month commitment to the Ohio Department of Youth Services suspended by Butler County Juvenile Court Judge Kathleen Romans. The girl was adjudicated on July 2 on the charge of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

The 14-year-old will not be allowed to leave her home during her home incarceration and will be closely monitored by her probation officer. Additionally, she was ordered to undergo counseling and have intensive probation, which means she will regularly be monitored and will frequently meet with her probation officer. She is also to have no contact with Tooson and Cross.

The girl’s case will be set for review at 10 a.m. on Aug. 27.