Akron man pleads guilty in Brian Powers' death, murder charge to be dismissed

A 49-year-old Akron man pleaded guilty to multiple charges in two separate cases, including in the 2020 shooting death of Brian Powers.

Court documents show that Bobby Bell pleaded guilty on March 6 to two counts of having weapons while under disability, one count of possession of cocaine and multiple forfeiture of a weapon while under disability specifications.

Prosecutors will dismiss the counts of murder and felonious assault along with the associated firearm specifications.

He also pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in a separate case.

Bell is scheduled to be sentenced for cases in Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Alison McCarty's courtroom on April 3 at 2 p.m.

Guilty plea nearly 4 years after Powers' death

Powers, who also went by the name of "Egypt," was seven months sober when he was found shot to death just before 8 a.m. on June 13, 2020, near East Buchtel Avenue and Chapel Drive.

Officers determined that Powers walked about a hundred yards after he was shot before collapsing near a church. A groundskeeper found Powers lying face-up and motionless on the sidewalk.

Friends of Powers, who was gender non-conforming, said they feared he may have been a victim of a hate crime.

Akron police arrested Bell three years after the fatal shooting along South Arlington Street. Officers recovered a loaded handgun and other evidence during his arrest.

A note on terms: We continue to refer to Brian Powers, also known as Egypt, using “he/him/his” pronouns, following extensive interviews with those who knew him.

Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron man pleads guilty in 2020 shooting death of Brian Powers