Double Homicide On The East Side

[Towntalk]

The Story Behind The Headline

Hate Crime or Mistaken Identity in Double Homicide?

SOURCE WKBN 27 NEWS

Youngstown police said someone murdered two people overnight Thursday on the East Side of town in what could have been a hate crime.

The shootings happened around 3 a.m. at the Victory Annex Complex. Police found two men, Ibn Shakoor, 20, of 671 McBride St., and Michael Johnson, 20, of 716 Katherine St., dead inside a silver Chevrolet Tahoe parked in a lot outside the McBride Street address.

Police Chief Rod Foley said a lot of people hang out in their cars in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred.

Police said the victims were openly gay and they are exploring the motive for the shooting being a hate crime, but they do not have evidence of that yet.

Police said a third person was involved in the shooting, but was not hurt. That witness told police they were listening to music and he heard between six and 12 shots. He said Johnson attempted to jump out of the passenger side of the vehicle when he was shot, according to a police report.

"He said they were just sitting there, not even knowing that anybody was outside the vehicle getting ready to do this. They were totally caught by surprise, according to our victim at the scene that was not hit," Foley said.

The witness told police he saw a black male in dark clothing just before the shooting started.

Another theory is the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.

"Was there somebody that was involved in a past criminal history that had a Silver Tahoe, similar to the victims?," Foley said.

Police said the victims do not have a criminal past.

"Two individuals who didn't have any involvement with criminal behavior, other than going out listening to music, playing  in the vehicle, not to bother the neighbors out there," Foley said. "Maybe somebody was mistaken and thought they were individuals they were feuding with."

Johnson was an employee of the Taco Bell on Fifth Avenue across from the YSU campus and his friends and co-workers said he always made their day when he came to work.

"We just worked with him yesterday," said co-worker Susan Parish, who has worked with him for several years. "He was actually a very outgoing guy. He never had a bad day the whole time he worked with us, always a smile on his face."

While police investigate the homicides, Johnson's friends are trying to make sense of all this and said they're in shock.

"Who wold do something to someone so nice like that," Parish said.

"I just wish it was just a dream. I could wake up and he'd be right here," said Rashida Lewis, a friend of Johnson. "He was just a  special person. I don't understand how someone can be ignorant, bold and just kill him like that."

"He always made anybody, if they're in a bad mood, make them happy. He loved to sing," said friend and co-worker Joanna Villanueva

According to police, at least a dozen shell casings were scattered on the ground. Witnesses heard several rounds fired at the scene.

The police report states the SUV had multiple bullet holes in the back of it and the back window was shot out. Police think there is likely more than one suspect because of the amount of shots fired.

The Youngstown Police Department is requesting that anyone with information on these murders contact the department at (330) 747-7911. Callers will remain anonymous.

Information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (330) 746-CLUE where individuals submitting information are eligible to receive a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for these murders.

The shootings mark the city's 13th and 14th murders of the year.

[jay]

The Updated 2012 Youngstown Homicide Map
mapbuilder.net/users/mprelee/103560

[jay]

Two men were shot and killed on the east side of the city last night.  These were the thirteenth and fourteenth homicides of 2012.

At this time last year the city had only four homicides.