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CLEVELAND -
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A teenager is behind bars, accused of killing a postal carrier on the job.
Police expect to charge 19-year-old Randie J. Winston with aggravated murder.
They believe he is the gunman who shot and killed 53-year old postal carrier Daniel Kondas as he walked his mail route on Corridon Ave. in Maple Heights Thursday morning.
"It was just a random victim, apparently there was a struggle of some sort and the gun went off," said Maple Heights Lt. Tim Love.
Hours later, officers arrested Winston at this home on Reddington Ave., one street away from where the shooting happened.
"He has been residing in that home for about six months from our understanding. I'm not gonna get into the specifics of how we ended up there," said Lt. Love.
"The dog smelled the scent and followed it to the house and stopped there," explained neighbor Odell Williams. Williams says he witnessed the arrest.
He also knows Winston, who he says goes by the nickname "Gully."
"I know that they be over there, they had a little studio there and they were rapping, he was trying to do something, but I guess him wanting some money got the best of him," Williams said.
Williams says the family that lives in the home, recently let Winston stay there. He says the teen had lately been feeling down and desperate.
"He just wanted some money, and he was going through a hard time, I guess he wasn't really thinking so he just did what he thought he had to do," he said.
Meanwhile, carrier Tom Rembowski filled in on Daniel Kondas' mail route Friday.
"This was Dan's day off today and tomorrow and I was on his route today and tomorrow, and this could've easily been me and I just think about that...it's scary, what has this community come to?" said Rembowski.
He calls Kondas a good co-worker who will be missed.
"It's just a sad day, sad day for the people on this route and this community, and for the postal service family, you know, we lost a great carrier today," said Rembowski.
"All of our young people I say to them, they need to take inventory, get a job, get a job, get something to do, get busy and maybe you'll stay out of trouble that way," says neighbor Shirley McCoy.
Randie Winston is being held in the Maple Heights city jail. He is expected to appear in court on Monday.
Police expect to charge 19-year-old Randie J. Winston with aggravated murder.
They believe he is the gunman who shot and killed 53-year old postal carrier Daniel Kondas as he walked his mail route on Corridon Ave. in Maple Heights Thursday morning.
"It was just a random victim, apparently there was a struggle of some sort and the gun went off," said Maple Heights Lt. Tim Love.
Hours later, officers arrested Winston at this home on Reddington Ave., one street away from where the shooting happened.
"He has been residing in that home for about six months from our understanding. I'm not gonna get into the specifics of how we ended up there," said Lt. Love.
"The dog smelled the scent and followed it to the house and stopped there," explained neighbor Odell Williams. Williams says he witnessed the arrest.
He also knows Winston, who he says goes by the nickname "Gully."
"I know that they be over there, they had a little studio there and they were rapping, he was trying to do something, but I guess him wanting some money got the best of him," Williams said.
Williams says the family that lives in the home, recently let Winston stay there. He says the teen had lately been feeling down and desperate.
"He just wanted some money, and he was going through a hard time, I guess he wasn't really thinking so he just did what he thought he had to do," he said.
Meanwhile, carrier Tom Rembowski filled in on Daniel Kondas' mail route Friday.
"This was Dan's day off today and tomorrow and I was on his route today and tomorrow, and this could've easily been me and I just think about that...it's scary, what has this community come to?" said Rembowski.
He calls Kondas a good co-worker who will be missed.
"It's just a sad day, sad day for the people on this route and this community, and for the postal service family, you know, we lost a great carrier today," said Rembowski.
"All of our young people I say to them, they need to take inventory, get a job, get a job, get something to do, get busy and maybe you'll stay out of trouble that way," says neighbor Shirley McCoy.
Randie Winston is being held in the Maple Heights city jail. He is expected to appear in court on Monday.
