TRUMBULL COUNTY Grand jury indicts man in fatal shooting at bar

A defense attorney said he expected his client to be no-billed.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A 27-year-old city man has been indicted on a voluntary manslaughter charge in a fatal shooting last month at a local bar.
A Trumbull County grand jury handed up the indictment Wednesday against Robert C. Williams of Deerfield Avenue. He will be arraigned on the charge next week before Judge W. Wyatt McKay of common pleas court.
According to the indictment, Williams is accused of shooting Orson Provitt, 29, of Jackson Street, on April 30.
Provitt was standing near the bar at the Golden Stallion, Warren Township, when the shooting took place, police said. No one else was injured.
Lt. Don Bishop of the township police department said Provitt pushed Williams moments before he was shot. Police say they are not sure why Provitt pushed Williams or the motive behind the shooting.
Police also declined to say exactly what type of weapon was used or how may times Provitt was shot.
A woman who works at the bar said there was "bad blood" between the two men and they had been fighting for a long time.
Reaction
Atty. Don L. Hanni Jr., who represents Williams, expressed shock when learning of the indictment.
"I really expected a no bill," Hanni said. "I ordinarily don't permit my clients to testify in front of a grand jury, but I was so convinced of his innocence that I let him."
Hanni said his client will plead innocent to the charge. "We will fight this vigorously," Hanni added.
sinkovich@vindy.com