CRIME Man killed in South Side gunfire; city's '04 homicide count now 21

A card found in the victim's pants said, 'Merry Christmas to: Tank, From: Mom.'
YOUNGSTOWN -- December has been deadly on the South Side, with four homicides in three weeks.
With the temperature hovering near zero Christmas Eve, witnesses were snug in their homes in the 2000 block of Rosedale Avenue when gunfire rang out. Accounts range from two, three or four shots being heard around 10:40 p.m.
A woman in a truck used her cell phone to call 911. When two suspects noticed her, she fled the area, police said.
A black man with no identification on him, likely in his mid-30s, was found in the street, lying on his back near the driveway in front of 2010 Rosedale when police arrived. He had been shot in the right thigh and back.
There was also a small bleeding hole on his forehead, just above the left eyebrow. His front teeth were broken and his lower lip was cut. Medical staff at St. Elizabeth Health Center told police the damage to the teeth appeared to be fresh.
The victim, 6 foot 3 inches and 280 pounds, was wearing a white T-shirt, black jeans, black tennis shoes and beige coat. He had a scraggly beard.
In his front jeans pocket a small gift card was found that said "Merry Christmas to: Tank, From: Mom" and below that was "P. Williams." The card was turned over to the crime lab.
The time of death was not immediately available.
Lt. Robin Lees, police department spokesman, said Saturday that the coroner's office would release the victim's name.
Police found a .380-caliber casing near the shooting victim's right hand and another 3 feet away. A third casing was later recovered in the Rural Metro ambulance.
Witnesses
One witness on Rosedale heard arguing and, when she looked out, saw three men in the street. It was too dark to identify them.
She went back to watching TV, then heard two or three shots. When she looked out again, she saw one man walking north on Rosedale but didn't see where the other one went.
Another witness, on West Glenaven Avenue, heard four shots then the sound of a car going north on Rosedale.
Another witness, on West Evergreen Avenue, was in the bathroom when she heard two shots. By the time she looked outside, police were already there.
The Christmas Eve homicide is the city's 21st this year and the fourth in three weeks -- all on the South Side. Last year, the city recorded 19 homicides.
December's other homicides:
*Dec. 18: Benedict D. Santana, 36, of 3527 Neilson Ave. found shot to death in his bed around 1:30 a.m.
*Dec. 13: Anthony Brock, 34, of Youngstown shot to death at 9:15 p.m. inside a 2000 Hyundai in the 700 block of Cambridge Street after the kidnapping of two teenage boys.
*Dec. 5: Jerome R. Miller Jr., 32, of Mistletoe Avenue ambushed at 6:20 p.m. as he waited in his car to place an order at Gina's Drive-Thru, 1942 Glenwood Ave.
The Christmas Eve homicide is also the fifth in less than a month.
On Nov. 27, James E. Rozenblad Jr., 23, of 60 N. Bruce St. was shot shortly after 10 p.m. downstairs while his mom was tied up and gagged upstairs at their East Side home.