Kalahari murder suspects yet to be tried

PERKINS TWP. — Nearly 11 months after a man was killed at a resort's employee housing, none of the seven people charged in connection to his death have yet had a trial. At approximately 12:45 a.m. on Jan. 17, officers were called to Kalahari Resorts' dormitory in the 5900 block of Milan Road (U.S. 250) for a report of an assault. When they arrived, officers found Dontre Tate dead of an apparent gunshot wound. A Feb. 7 grand jury indicted seven people in connection with the murder. Since then, three have had their charges dismissed. Two men were indicted on murder charges: • Delonnie C. Brown, 27, of Toledo, was indicted for murder, aggravated burglary, felonious assault and tampering with evidence. • Quinton Cangelo, 22, of Toledo, was indicted for murder, aggravated burglary and tampering with evidence. Two other men were also indicted for their roles in the shooting: • DaQuan Brown, 20, Toledo, was indicted for aggravated burglary and tampering with evidence. • Travon T.L. Brown, 23, Warren, Michigan, was indicted on an obstruction of justice charge. Background on the shooting During a party in one of the dormitory rooms, Cangelo and Tate exchanged words, according to Perkins police Det. Joseph Rotuno. Cangelo then left the party and recruited Delonnie Brown and DaQuan Brown to return with him to the party to confront Tate, 24, of Cleveland. Cangelo was aware that Delonnie Brown had recently purchased a firearm, Rotuno said. The three then returned to the party and eventually barged in and a physical altercation ensued between them and Tate, according to police. During the fight, Delonnie Brown allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired one shot which struck Tate in the chest. Tate then ran out of the room and collapsed several feet away. Delonnie Brown allegedly attempted to reload his gun and in doing so accidentally shot his brother, DaQuan, in the leg. Cangelo, Delonnie Brown and DaQuan Brown then fled the scene in Delonnie Brown's vehicle, Rotuno said. Kalahari security's cooperation with the investigation was key to quickly identifying the alleged perpetrators, Rotuno said. Surveillance cameras recorded the suspects at multiple locations in the facility, he said. Due to the Browns having ties to Toledo, Perkins police reached out to Toledo police for assistance. They found the car and initiated a traffic stop where they arrested the Browns and Cangelo. Officers were able to recover a firearm from Delonnie Brown's mother. After testing, it was determined to be the alleged murder weapon, according to Rotuno. Travon Brown allegedly provided false information about knowing Delonnie Brown had recently purchased a firearm, Rotuno said. The three people who were indicted but had their charges dropped were residents of the room where the party occurred. Jems Vasquez, 21, Grims Vasquez, 21, and Sofia Macedo, 21 were each indicted on a single charge of tampering with evidence. The cases against the Vasquezes were dismissed in March. Macedo's case was dismissed in April. Macedo was declared a material witness by prosecutors and was deposed so her testimony would be available at any potential trials, according to court documents. Cangelo is scheduled to have a jury trial beginning Dec. 12. Delonnie Brown's lawyer filed a motion for continuance at the end of October that has not been ruled upon, according to the Erie County common pleas court records. DaQuan Brown is scheduled to have a jury trial beginning on Jan. 30. Travon Brown has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for Dec. 20. Delonnie Brown, DaQuan Brown and Cangelo are all currently incarcerated at Erie County Jail. Travon Brown was released on a $5,000 bond.