Homicide rate rises with boy's slaying

Detectives were rounding up witnesses to question.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The homicide rate is up 66 percent from this time last year.
On Aug. 25, 2004, the city had recorded its 15th homicide. There wasn't another until Oct. 21, 2004, and the year ended with 22 slayings.
The most recent homicide -- the 25th of the year -- happened late Wednesday.
A feud between two groups escalated into shots fired and left 15-year-old Shuan Williams dead from a bullet wound to the head, police said. He is the sixth victim this year under the age of 20.
Williams was found lying on the porch of his South Side home at 3109 Glenwood Ave. around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday. His brother, Brandon Williams, 20, was nearby with a bullet wound to his right leg.
Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr. said a tattoo that depicts the silhouette of a man holding an automatic weapon was spotted on the arm of an adult in the crowd at the crime scene. The chief shook his head at the message such artwork conveys.
"Society is not getting the job done," he said Thursday.
Police said the front of the house on Glenwood also took three hits near the end of the porch. Two casings were found in the street.
Dispute
Police learned that a fight had taken place earlier in the day between two groups that had been feuding since last summer, and threats were exchanged.
The arguing picked up again at 9:10 p.m. when three cars were seen coming down the street. A large group of men of various ages showed up, and shots -- one witness heard five -- were fired from near a tree by the porch. That's when the victims on the porch were hit.
The group that had arrived to continue the fight then scattered. A white Cadillac seen on Boston Avenue may have taken some of the suspects away, police were told.
Lt. Rod Foley said detectives were out Thursday rounding up witnesses for questioning. He said the reason for the ongoing feud wasn't immediately clear.
Of the 25 slayings so far this year, 12 happened on the South Side, seven on the East Side, five on the North Side and one downtown.