YOUNGSTOWN Teen charged in slaying faces trial as adult

A county grand jury will decide whether to indict the teen for murder.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 16-year-old Chaney High School student, charged in the shooting death of a Falls Avenue man, faces trial as an adult.
Durrell L. Jones was bound over to Mahoning County Common Pleas Court from juvenile court Monday.
A hearing was scheduled before Judge Theresa Dellick of juvenile court to determine whether there was probable cause to try Jones as an adult. Defense attorney Mark Lavelle waived the hearing and allowed the matter to proceed to common pleas court.
Lavelle declined to comment afterward.
"We'll present the case to a grand jury and see what happens," said Prosecutor Paul Gains. He'll seek an indictment for aggravated murder.
Jones is accused of killing 22-year-old Jason L. Jackson of West Falls Avenue, who was shot once in the head around 9:45 p.m. Oct. 22, at 544 W. Glenaven Ave. Police found Jackson on the living room floor. He later died at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Video game
A witness told police that Jones was shot when he bent over to hook up a video game.
Moments after the shooting, a description of the suspect and the car he was driving was broadcast over police radio. The investigation led police to a house on West Princeton Avenue, where they arrested Jones. Reports show Jones' address as West Princeton.
A witness also told police that Jackson and Jones had been wrestling over a gun and Jones got control of it and shot Jackson.
An Austintown man who had been in the house when the shooting occurred said Jackson was shot when he bent over to hook up a PlayStation game.
Police have said the motive for the shooting is unknown, but that Jones claimed to have been threatened in the past by Jackson.
bjackson@vindy.com