CLEVELAND -- Prosecutors said a crime involving the theft of an XBox videogame was so heinous that they will seek the death penalty against two cousins, Cleveland television station WEWS reported.
The grand jury indicted Mike Santos, 21, and Olyn Santos, 18, for allegedly killing Harry Gonzalez, an acquaintance, and then taking an XBox videogame unit and a gold chain.
They face three charges of aggravated murder and could receive the death penalty, WEWS reported.
Prosecutors said the two men stabbed and cut Gonzalez repeatedly. Also, there reportedly is evidence of them trying to sever a finger and arm before they plunged a knife twice into his brain, officials said.
"This is -- to put it mildly -- a heinous murder," assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor Blaise Thomas said. He added that the coroner said there were 70 stab or cut injuries inflicted during the attack.
The incident reportedly happened July 28 at 10 p.m., when the victim invited the Santos cousins inside to play video games.
Officials said they believe that suddenly things turned violent. Lorrie Turner, who lives upstairs, heard everything, WEWS reported.
"I heard them fighting, screaming in the street, and then cops came and fire trucks," she said.
The victim's brother reportedly was at home, but the suspects allegedly forced him out of the home.
"The victim's brother frantically, desperately tried to get back inside," Thomas said. "But when he couldn't, he ran out into the street, screaming and yelling for anybody to help."
Witness Bill Anderson said, "I didn't really understand but eventually he said, 'They killed my brother.'"
The suspects were gone when police arrived, WEWS reported.
"I can't imagine people capable of so much rage and violence," neighbor Rae Nealings said.
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