James Lavern Kimbrough III will spend the rest of his life in prison for the January 2022 murder of Milenna Lopez, a mother of four children.
Kimbrough, 36, of Lorain, received his sentence Jan. 16 during a hearing before Lorain County Common Pleas Judge D. Chris Cook.
Lopez’s birthday fell on the same day as Kimbrough’s sentence hearing, according to Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Chris Pierre.
The family and friends of both Lopez, who was 24, and Kimbrough filled Cook’s courtroom to capacity.
As Cook took the bench, he warned the audience that although he understood the emotional atmosphere, he would not hesitate to have anyone who was disruptive escorted from his courtroom “at the minimum.”
Kimbrough fatally shot Lopez with five rounds to her back while she was sitting in her vehicle Jan. 6, 2022, while taking a break from her manager’s job at the McDonald’s restaurant, 5250 Detroit Road in Sheffield Village.
One of the rounds went into Lopez’s arm and she attempted to fend off the onslaught of bullets, Pierre said.
Lopez lost consciousness as she died very quickly after the attack, he said.
Kimbrough and Lopez had an long-term ongoing “toxic” relationship during which they had two children together, said Kimbrough’s attorney, Michael Stepanik.
The two had scheduled to meet at the restaurant, because a few days prior to her homicide, Kimbrough broke into her residence and stole all of her shoes, Pierre said.
Kimbrough had promised Lopez to bring her shoes to her at their 9:45 a.m. meeting, Pierre said.
“But he didn’t bring the shoes, judge,” the prosecutor said. “He brought a gun.”
While Lopez was being attacked, there were multiple restaurant patrons in the area, police said.
Following Lopez’s murder, Kimbrough fled from authorities for 101 days until his capture in April 2022.
While Kimbrough was running from the law, Lopez’s family lived in fear that he would “strike again,” said Lopez’s mother, Jessica Mojica.
“She was a fierce protector,” Mojica said of her daughter. “She was a dedicated worker from the age of 16.
“She had the best sense of humor, always joking and flashing her beautiful smile.”
Mojica wore a purple shirt with her daughter’s picture on it as did many of Lopez’s supporters.
The family chose the color purple because its the tint of domestic abuse awareness, Pierre said.
Others in the audience wore green shirts because green was Lopez’s favorite color.
Lopez’s young children, accompanied by their aunt, Erika Padilla, also attended the hearing and spoke of the sorrow they felt over the sudden loss of their mother.
Lopez’s younger brother and older sister also spoke out against Kimbrough, admonishing him for the loss of Lopez.
Meanwhile, Pierre told the court that Kimbrough had exhibited “a complete lack of remorse” following Lopez’s murder.
Stepanik disagreed telling the court that Kimbrough, in fact, felt remorseful for his actions.
“I’m sad for James because of what he did,” Stepanik told the court.
Kimbrough also spoke during the hearing.
“My actions were very selfish …. I can only believe that I did what I did to get her out of my life,” he said. “However, in doing so, I did more than I ever could imagine.
“I did not just take her life from her, but I took her out of the lives of her children and her family and her friends. Not only did she not deserve it, but they didn’t either. There’s nothing I can ever say or do that can make up for that.
“I can say that I’m sorry and I don’t expect forgiveness, but I’ll spend the rest of my life begging for it.”
Kimbrough was the last to speak before Cook handed down the sentencing.
“All I can say is my heart goes out to the family for this tragic loss,” the judge said.
On Jan. 11, Kimbrough pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated murder; three counts of murder charges, each with different legal specifications; two counts of felonious assault; tampering with evidence; having weapons while under disability and violation of a protection order, which all are felonies.
As part of the plea agreement, two other felony cases were dismissed.
Kimbrough will be eligible for early release after he serves 31 years in prison, which will exclude the time he’s spent in the Lorain County Jail since April 2022, Cook said.
Cook also ordered Kimbrough to pay $9,900 for Lopez’s funeral expenses as part of the sentence.
Editor’s note: This story was edited at 9:15 a.m. Jan. 17, 2024, to correct the spelling of the victim’s name.
