Fight in Flats killed budding star
Teen was contender as Glenville starter
Tuesday, January 31, 2006 Gabriel Baird
Plain Dealer Reporter
On the last day of Anthony Gordon's life, the 16-year-old boy went with his younger brother and a cousin to a barber to get haircuts.
Anthony, a Glenville High School student, came home with a fresh cut and primped for a Saturday night out with friends. But his great aunt Victoria Davis was apprehensive about him staying out late. She thought he should stay home.
"Oh auntie," he told her. "I'm all right."
His mother, 33-year-old Tanielle Shurney, assumed her middle son was going to another harmless teenage dance. Anthony went to Kaos nightclub in the Flats. Radio One DJs had hosted "Top Shelf Saturdays" at the club until earlier this month. Saturday night was a teen night.
Fights broke out after midnight and spilled into the streets. The brawls raged so out of control police called for backup from three districts. Police arrived as fistfights gave way to gunshots, leaving Anthony dead.
Police have no suspects in his slaying. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 216-623-5464.
Students cried in the halls Monday at Glenville High School, said Chaz Hughes, a 17-year-old senior. At the end of the day, he and several friends played basketball and regaled their former classmate's skills as a running back on the football team.
"Next year he would have started varsity," Chaz said.
These sentiments were echoed by Rob McQueen, 39, who coached Anthony for three years on the Glenville Titans, a Cleveland municipal football league team.
"Anthony was a kid who never griped about anything," McQueen said.
McQueen vowed to keep Anthony's memory alive by retiring his jersey number.
Anthony's family gathered Monday evening in East Cleveland, bringing food, prayers and their favorite memories of Anthony.
The close-knit family gathers weekly for Soul Food Sundays. Anthony's favorite foods were macaroni and cheese and hamburgers, Davis said.
But at these family gatherings, he was as concerned with music as he was with the grub.
"He would DJ," she said.
Davis said she didn't think the death would really sink in until today, when they plan to view his body at the funeral home.
Family members have set up the Anthony Gordon Memorial Fund to help pay for the funeral. Donations can be made at any KeyBank branch.
Plain Dealer researcher Cheryl Diamond contributed to this story.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4141