TRUMBULL COUNTY Police investigate double shooting

The van was shot nine times, police said.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Township police are investigating a double shooting that took place in the parking lot of the American Legion post on Bane Street.
Police said a van driven by Mark A. Dukes, 27, of Van Wye Street, Warren, was shot nine times around 1 a.m. today.
Dukes was shot twice, once in the hip and once in the buttocks, and was taken to St. Joseph Health Center, according to Lt. Donald Bishop. Police said Dukes is in stable condition this morning.
Stephanie Dean, 30, of Southwest Boulevard, a passenger in the van, was grazed with a bullet and treated at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
No arrests have been made.
"What Mr. Dukes told me is that he was pulling into the lot and a person that had a beef with him prior to him going to prison was there, so he left," Bishop said. "He was turning his van around to leave when someone opened fire."
Police said it appeared that a person fired at the van 10 times and hit it nine times.
According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Dukes was released from prison in May 2003 after serving a two-year sentence for assault.
"We will be talking to people that were there this morning and try to figure out exactly what happened," Bishop said.
Second shooting
He noted that this is the second shooting at the American Legion this year. He said there was a shooting in July involving two females.
"When we were at the legion early this morning, we were talking to people and found out that the liquor license has been suspended since April because they owe something like $17,000 in back taxes," Bishop said. "Since I was investigating a double shooting I didn't have time to issue them a citation, but I will be sending them one for illegally selling alcohol. If the license is under suspension, they can't sell alcohol."
Bishop said he will also be contacting state liquor control agents.
No one answered the phone at the American Legion post this morning.
sinkovich@vindy.com