2 men charged in death

Sean Smith died en route to the hospital after having been shot four times.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Two Ohio men are charged with homicide in the shooting death of a city man.
Police arraigned Teandre M. DeMarco, 29, of Warren, and Michael Price, 29, of Youngstown, on Tuesday. They are charged with criminal homicide, criminal attempt at robbery, aggravated assault, a former convict not to carry a firearm and criminal conspiracy to commit robbery.
A third person, Sheila Brothers, 30, of Warren, also was arraigned Tuesday on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit robbery and fleeing or attempting to elude police officers.
Brothers' bail was set at $100,000 and DeMarco and Price were denied bail because of the homicide charges, said District Justice Melissa Amodie.
Police arrested the trio, along with two others, Dec. 5 after a shooting at a West Lutton Street home and a high-speed chase that ended in Youngstown.
Charges filed against the trio last week were dropped in lieu of these new charges, Amodie said.
The other two, Naomi Brothers, 24, and Russell Florence, 31, both of New Castle, still face charges of aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy to commit burglary and criminal conspiracy to commit robbery. Both are being held in Lawrence County Jail with bond set at $100,000 each.
Police said Sean Smith, 35, of 2 W. Lutton St., died while being transported to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown.
What's alleged
According to an affidavit filed to support the new charges, Smith was shot four times in the chest, back and buttocks, with one shot at close range. Police said the lethal shot hit Smith's liver and fragmented into his lung.
Police said Florence told them he and Naomi Brothers, his girlfriend, went to Smith's home to sell him a tattoo. Smith is a tattoo artist by trade.
Florence added that DeMarco and Price, who he identified as half brothers, came with the intention of buying marijuana from Smith, police said. Sheila Brothers, DeMarco's girlfriend, drove, according to police.
Reports do not indicate if Sheila Brothers is related to Naomi Brothers.
According to Florence's statement, Florence was pushed out of the way when Smith opened the door and Price entered with a long silver and black gun. Price and Smith wrestled for the gun, witnesses told police.
DeMarco came in with a handgun and shot Smith, court papers stated.
According to police, Florence and Naomi Brothers ran to the car and the two shooters followed. Price was shot in the left leg and was treated at University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Pittsburgh.
The affidavit stated that DeMarco told Sheila Brothers to drive and the police chase started shortly after that.
The chase ended at U.S. Route 422 and Liberty-Struthers Road when Sheila Brothers' Chrysler Concorde crashed into another car and a wall. Police said the chase exceeded 100 mph at times.
Police said they found a handgun and a semiautomatic rifle in the car.
According to police, Smith was conscious when they arrived and was able to identify his attackers.
A second man in the house said DeMarco shot at him too, but the witness hid behind a refrigerator.
Police said Price was previously convicted of felony theft in Ohio in 1999 and DeMarco was convicted on an Ohio felony drug charge in 2000.
cioffi@vindy.com