YOUNGSTOWN Man is shot to death on S. Side

This is the city's first homicide since a deadly double arson May 2.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A young man with a 9mm pistol in his waistband died on Volney Road early today from gunshot wounds.
Detective sergeants Jose Morales and Gerald Maietta said the body was found in the 2600 block, in the middle of the street. They wanted to confirm the victim's identity with family before releasing his name.
If confirmed, identification found on the body shows that the victim celebrated his 21st birthday a month ago and lived in Youngstown.
Canvassed neighborhood
Maietta and Morales canvassed the quiet South Side neighborhood near Mill Creek Park today looking for anyone who may have seen or heard something.
The detectives said the victim's car was not on the street and they want to know how he got there. They also want to know why he was there at that hour since it is not his neighborhood.
The victim's presence in the neighborhood, the detectives said, may have involved a drug deal, "if it's the guy we think it is," the detectives said.
The first patrolmen on the scene said in their report that the victim was wearing a red do-rag on his head, blue jean shorts and a red shirt with "Ali" written on the back. He was bleeding from the head and unresponsive.
The gun in the victim's waistband was loaded with five rounds. Police also found a 10-round magazine.
Witness's account
A witness who had been on Indianola Avenue near the shooting scene told police he heard several gunshots and, as he rounded the corner to Volney, saw a newer model dark car with its lights off drive north on Volney. He called 911 on his cell phone.
Several neighbors reported hearing gunshots, but didn't see anything.
This is the city's 16th homicide of the year and the first since a deadly arson May 2 claimed the lives of two little girls on East Lucius Avenue. A ruling is pending on a man who was stabbed in February and died in May.
At this time last year, the city had recorded 16 homicides.
meade@vindy.com