Jury trial begins for two men accused of shooting a Cleveland mother

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The jury trial began Monday in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas for two of the three men accused in the fatal shooting of a Cleveland mother in front of her two young children.

Jamar Skanes and Alontez Beasley are accused of killing 29-year-old Alyson Appling-France on January 10.

Appling-France was shot 17 times as she unloaded groceries in the parking lot of her apartment complex near Detroit Avenue and Berea Road.

Her daughters, aged six and ten, were in the car. They were not injured.

Cuyahoga County District Attorney Michael O'Malley said a third person has also been charged with the crime, but Clarence Bennett is still at large.

According to O'Malley, Bennett followed the victim to Target, watched her enter and exit, and then tipped off Skanes and Beasley as she was on her way home.

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After the shooting, Skanes and Beasley fled the scene and were arrested by Cleveland police on January 26.

Anyone with information about Bennet should call the U.S. Marshals at 1-866-4WANTED.

“These three individuals conspired to brutally murder Alyson Appling-France in front of her 10 and 6 year old daughters. Their actions were unfathomable and I firmly believe they pose a danger to the public… Jamar Skanes and Alontez Beasley are in custody. We need the public's help to locate Clarence Bennett. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-866-4.WANTED.”

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