Topline: Police say the woman was shot in the face and her child was thrown from the car after demanding money during a robbery.
Published: January 7, 2026 8:32 am ET
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Ronald Loftis (via Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction)
CLEVELAND, OH — A Cleveland man accused of shooting a mother in the face during a west side carjacking — while her young child was nearby — is now behind bars as police continue to investigate what authorities have described as a brazen act of violence.
According to a news release from the Cleveland Division of Police, the incident unfolded around 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, in the 7900 block of Madison Avenue.
Police said the suspect approached a woman from behind, pointed a gun at her and demanded money. When she was unable to comply, investigators said the suspect forcibly stole her vehicle. During the robbery, police said the suspect discharged a firearm, striking the woman in the face, an act that also endangered a child who was present at the scene.
Details shared with WJW indicate the victim, 38, was with her 1-year-old son at the time of the encounter. The woman’s daughter, Jovanna Muscatello, told the station that the suspect threatened to kill her mother if she did not hand over money. When the woman said she had none, Muscatello said the suspect demanded her car keys, threw the child out of the vehicle and into the snow, and began fighting with the woman over the car. During that struggle, the gun went off and the woman was shot in the face.
Police said the victim was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
WOIO later reported the woman required more than a dozen stitches and has since returned home to recover. Authorities located the stolen vehicle abandoned a few blocks away shortly after the shooting, according to police.
The Cleveland Division of Police said detectives with the Second District launched an intensive investigation immediately after the robbery. Through coordinated efforts, investigators identified a suspect and obtained an arrest warrant. On Saturday, Jan. 3, Second District detectives, working with the Crime Gun Intelligence Center and assisted by the Neighborhood Impact and Community Engagement (NICE) Unit, located the suspect at a residence on Cleveland’s east side and took him into custody without incident, police said.
The suspect was identified by police as Ronald Loftis, 47. According to WJW and Cleveland Municipal Court records, Loftis was arraigned Monday morning on charges of attempted murder and aggravated robbery. A judge set his bond at $500,000, and he is scheduled to return to court Jan. 13 for a preliminary hearing. WOIO reported that state prison records show Loftis had been released from prison last month.
“This was a senseless and violent crime carried out with complete disregard for human life,” Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said in a statement released by the department. “Because of the decisive and relentless work of our officers and detectives, this dangerous individual is now off our streets. Our thoughts are with the victim as she recovers from this traumatic event. We are grateful that she is in stable condition and that the child who was with her was not physically harmed.”
Chief Todd also credited multiple units for the arrest, saying, “These investigations are often complex, fast-moving and require extensive coordination across our Division. The outstanding work of our Second District officers, detectives, N.I.C.E. Unit and our CGIC detectives demonstrates the Cleveland Division of Police’s dedication to holding violent offenders accountable and protecting our community.”
Loftis remains held in the Cuyahoga County Jail, and police said additional charges are possible as the investigation continues.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Published: January 7, 2026 8:32 am ET
Ronald Loftis (via Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction)
CLEVELAND, OH — A Cleveland man accused of shooting a mother in the face during a west side carjacking — while her young child was nearby — is now behind bars as police continue to investigate what authorities have described as a brazen act of violence.
According to a news release from the Cleveland Division of Police, the incident unfolded around 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, in the 7900 block of Madison Avenue.
Police said the suspect approached a woman from behind, pointed a gun at her and demanded money. When she was unable to comply, investigators said the suspect forcibly stole her vehicle. During the robbery, police said the suspect discharged a firearm, striking the woman in the face, an act that also endangered a child who was present at the scene.
Details shared with WJW indicate the victim, 38, was with her 1-year-old son at the time of the encounter. The woman’s daughter, Jovanna Muscatello, told the station that the suspect threatened to kill her mother if she did not hand over money. When the woman said she had none, Muscatello said the suspect demanded her car keys, threw the child out of the vehicle and into the snow, and began fighting with the woman over the car. During that struggle, the gun went off and the woman was shot in the face.
Police said the victim was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
WOIO later reported the woman required more than a dozen stitches and has since returned home to recover. Authorities located the stolen vehicle abandoned a few blocks away shortly after the shooting, according to police.
The Cleveland Division of Police said detectives with the Second District launched an intensive investigation immediately after the robbery. Through coordinated efforts, investigators identified a suspect and obtained an arrest warrant. On Saturday, Jan. 3, Second District detectives, working with the Crime Gun Intelligence Center and assisted by the Neighborhood Impact and Community Engagement (NICE) Unit, located the suspect at a residence on Cleveland’s east side and took him into custody without incident, police said.
The suspect was identified by police as Ronald Loftis, 47. According to WJW and Cleveland Municipal Court records, Loftis was arraigned Monday morning on charges of attempted murder and aggravated robbery. A judge set his bond at $500,000, and he is scheduled to return to court Jan. 13 for a preliminary hearing. WOIO reported that state prison records show Loftis had been released from prison last month.
“This was a senseless and violent crime carried out with complete disregard for human life,” Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said in a statement released by the department. “Because of the decisive and relentless work of our officers and detectives, this dangerous individual is now off our streets. Our thoughts are with the victim as she recovers from this traumatic event. We are grateful that she is in stable condition and that the child who was with her was not physically harmed.”
Chief Todd also credited multiple units for the arrest, saying, “These investigations are often complex, fast-moving and require extensive coordination across our Division. The outstanding work of our Second District officers, detectives, N.I.C.E. Unit and our CGIC detectives demonstrates the Cleveland Division of Police’s dedication to holding violent offenders accountable and protecting our community.”
Loftis remains held in the Cuyahoga County Jail, and police said additional charges are possible as the investigation continues.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Man Allegedly Tosses 1-Year-Old Child From Car After Shooting Mother in Face During Robbery
Police say the woman was shot in the face and her child was thrown from the car after demanding money during a robbery.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 7, 2026 8:32 am ET
Ronald Loftis (via Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction)
CLEVELAND, OH — A Cleveland man accused of shooting a mother in the face during a west side carjacking — while her young child was nearby — is now behind bars as police continue to investigate what authorities have described as a brazen act of violence.
According to a news release from the Cleveland Division of Police, the incident unfolded around 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, in the 7900 block of Madison Avenue.
Police said the suspect approached a woman from behind, pointed a gun at her and demanded money. When she was unable to comply, investigators said the suspect forcibly stole her vehicle. During the robbery, police said the suspect discharged a firearm, striking the woman in the face, an act that also endangered a child who was present at the scene.
Details shared with WJW indicate the victim, 38, was with her 1-year-old son at the time of the encounter. The woman’s daughter, Jovanna Muscatello, told the station that the suspect threatened to kill her mother if she did not hand over money. When the woman said she had none, Muscatello said the suspect demanded her car keys, threw the child out of the vehicle and into the snow, and began fighting with the woman over the car. During that struggle, the gun went off and the woman was shot in the face.
Police said the victim was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
WOIO later reported the woman required more than a dozen stitches and has since returned home to recover. Authorities located the stolen vehicle abandoned a few blocks away shortly after the shooting, according to police.
The Cleveland Division of Police said detectives with the Second District launched an intensive investigation immediately after the robbery. Through coordinated efforts, investigators identified a suspect and obtained an arrest warrant. On Saturday, Jan. 3, Second District detectives, working with the Crime Gun Intelligence Center and assisted by the Neighborhood Impact and Community Engagement (NICE) Unit, located the suspect at a residence on Cleveland’s east side and took him into custody without incident, police said.
The suspect was identified by police as Ronald Loftis, 47. According to WJW and Cleveland Municipal Court records, Loftis was arraigned Monday morning on charges of attempted murder and aggravated robbery. A judge set his bond at $500,000, and he is scheduled to return to court Jan. 13 for a preliminary hearing. WOIO reported that state prison records show Loftis had been released from prison last month.
“This was a senseless and violent crime carried out with complete disregard for human life,” Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said in a statement released by the department. “Because of the decisive and relentless work of our officers and detectives, this dangerous individual is now off our streets. Our thoughts are with the victim as she recovers from this traumatic event. We are grateful that she is in stable condition and that the child who was with her was not physically harmed.”
Chief Todd also credited multiple units for the arrest, saying, “These investigations are often complex, fast-moving and require extensive coordination across our Division. The outstanding work of our Second District officers, detectives, N.I.C.E. Unit and our CGIC detectives demonstrates the Cleveland Division of Police’s dedication to holding violent offenders accountable and protecting our community.”
Loftis remains held in the Cuyahoga County Jail, and police said additional charges are possible as the investigation continues.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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