Charges dropped against Washington man accused of 2020 Cleveland murder

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Prosecutors have dismissed charges without prejudice against a Tacoma, Washington man accused of killing a Cleveland father in 2020.

The case may be reintroduced at a later date.

Nivalava Moequ, 24, was charged in July with the murder of Edward Brown Sr.

Brown was shot and killed while sitting in the driver’s seat of a white Ford Escape outside a home on West 46th Street and near Train Avenue on July 26, 2020.

Niualava Moegu Jr((Source: Cuyahoga County Sheriff))

According to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, Brown died of multiple gunshot wounds to the neck and right thigh.

Brown was also from Tacoma.

An arrest warrant for Moequ was issued in December 2023, but several months passed before he was taken into custody.

Records show he was held at the Thurston County Correctional Facility until July 18, when he was extradited to Ohio and booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail.