YOUNGSTOWN Police arrest man in slaying

Barron's sentencing for the drug charge was delayed until the murder case is sorted out in court.
By BOB JACKSONand PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITERS
YOUNGSTOWN -- Arthur Barron was right on time for sentencing in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on a drug charge. That's how Youngstown police knew where to find him.
He was arrested Wednesday in a hallway and charged with the murder of John M. Cannell, 32, of Quentin Drive.
Cannell collapsed and died Monday afternoon in front of 1004 W. Woodland Ave. after being shot in the chest. Cannell's wife had traded her wedding band for drugs and he went to get it back, police said.
Barron, 29, of Carroll Street, pleaded guilty in October to one count of cocaine possession. He was free on bond while a court-ordered background check was done.
He was to be sentenced Wednesday morning by Judge R. Scott Krichbaum.
Instead, Detective Sgt. John Kelty cuffed Barron's hands behind his back and arrested him.
Barron's eyes grew wide when Kelty told him why he was being arrested.
"How could I have killed somebody?" he asked.
Kelty said three eyewitnesses, including the victim's wife, identified Barron as the shooter. He was being held in the county jail awaiting arraignment.
Bond revoked
Judge Krichbaum delayed sentencing Barron on the cocaine charge until the murder case is sorted out. He revoked Barron's $2,500 bond in the meantime.
"The resolution of the detectives' investigation speaks for itself," Lt. Robin Lees, police department public information officer, said Wednesday. "We've got two in jail after, what, 48 hours?"
Brad Dunbar, 25, of North Hazelwood Avenue was arrested Tuesday evening on a charge of complicity to commit murder. Dunbar is accused of aiding or abetting Barron.
Lees said Kelty and Detective Sgt. Ron Rodway had solid information supplied by witnesses, ran down leads and knocked on doors. Lees called it "good conventional police work."