NILES Ruling in police shooting to take weeks

The coroner's office will wait a little longer before making a ruling.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- It could take as long as four to six weeks before the Mahoning County coroner's office issues an official ruling in the death of James Fambro-Wade.
A spokeswoman from the office said officials will wait for the results of toxicology reports and for evidence collected by the Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation before issuing a ruling.
"We want to compile all of the information before we rule on anything," she said.
She noted it's standard for a ruling to take several weeks, especially when several agencies are collecting information related to the death.
Fambro-Wade, 43, of Warren, died at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown from gunshot wounds suffered from shots fired by Niles police.
Fambro-Wade is the man police say fatally shot his former girlfriend, 21-year-old Erica Mechling, of Wood Street, Niles, in the front yard of her neighbor's home last week. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Here's the scene
When police arrived, Fambro-Wade was standing in the yard holding a semiautomatic gun.
Reports state Fambro-Wade rushed toward officers, but Capt. Charles Wilson said last week that police are still unclear who fired first and whether Fambro-Wade fired at police.
The Trumbull County coroner's office last week ruled Mechling's death a homicide, saying she had died from multiple gunshot wounds. Officials have not released the number or location of the wounds.
Police Chief Bruce Simeone and Officer Chris Mannella were placed on paid administrative leave for their involvement in Fambro-Wade's death. Wilson is serving as acting chief.
The Trumbull County prosecutor's office and BCI will conduct an investigation into whether the officers' use of deadly force was justified. That investigation is expected to last several weeks.
slshaulis@vindy.com