Cleveland’s 1st murder victim of 2024 was facing charges in stolen car scheme

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The 23-year-old man found fatally shot at a playground on the city's West side on New Year's Day, was one of 39 people indicted this summer for allegedly stealing and forging car titles to sell high-end vehicles.

Enrique Dudenas, of Cleveland, was killed around 5:30 p.m. on Monday in the area of 13500 Triskett Rd. in the Mohican Playfield parking lot.

He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

At this time, there are no arrests, but Cleveland police said the suspects were in a U-Haul van.

This was the first murder in the city for 2024.

In July, Dudenas was indicted by a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury on the charges of receiving stolen property, forgery and motor vehicle certificate title offenses.

According to court documents, Dudenas failed to show up for his Aug.

8 arraignment and a warrant for his arrest was issued.