Jury returns verdict for 17-year-old accused of shooting 14-year-old from Cleveland 15 times

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – 17-year-old Steven Sopko Jr. was found guilty Friday of aggravated murder, two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

A jury found Sopko guilty of killing 14-year-old Braylon Hardges on November 5 last year.

“You would have loved him if you met my baby,” said Seaerra LeFlore, Braylon’s mother. “You really would love him, you really would have.”

LeFlore said Braylon dreamed of becoming a football player and going to college.

LeFlore hopes Sopko's trial will answer her questions about why her son died.

“I've had hard, hard nights since this happened, and now we're going back to the trauma,” LeFlore said. “So it’s very difficult for me.”

Sopko was 16 years old when he shot Hardges.

“Yes, I understand he is a child, I lost a child. I’m aware of that,” LeFlore said. “My child will never return to this world. I understand that it is also a child, but if there are children here who commit heinous acts for adults, they must be treated as adults.”

LeFlore has evolved from raising a teenager to raising awareness about involvement in your child's life.

She hopes that by telling her son's story, no other family will have to suffer the same heartache.

“Be open with your children. And the kids are open to your parents because that could be all of you one day,” LeFlore said. “One day every parent will cry and try to fight for justice for you.”

Sopko is scheduled to be sentenced next Thursday at 10:30 a.m

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