Self-defense probed in fatal shooting

YOUNGSTOWN -- The South Side man accused of killing his sister's former boyfriend remains free as investigators look into assertions of self-defense, a city police detective said.
The 35-year-old Glenwood Avenue man was arrested Saturday night after shooting John Bell, 43, of Liberty, at the woman's Cameron Street home. Police reports show that the brother had gone to the Cameron Street residence after Bell had made threats via the telephone against his sister.
Detective Sgt. Jose Morales said the brother was detained from Saturday night until Monday, when prosecutors chose to release him instead of arraigning him. The case will be presented directly to a grand jury in about two weeks, Morales said.
"Right now it looks like self-defense, so we didn't want to hold him until there's more investigation," Morales said. "And we're going to let the grand jury decide."
The manner of death has been ruled homicide by the Mahoning County Coroner's office.
According to police reports, the brother was sitting on his sister's back porch at about 8:15 p.m. Saturday when he saw Bell coming through the yard and shot him. Police officials said Bell had threatened the woman and hit her Friday in Austintown.