Arrest at YSU nets murder count

Freshman Anthony Norman Jr. was part of a July shootout, police allege.
By JOHN GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Youngstown State University freshman was arrested on campus Tuesday on murder charges from Akron.
According to the Akron Police Department, Anthony Norman Jr., 19, of Madison Avenue, is charged with murder, attempted murder and felonious assault.
He was in Mahoning County Jail Tuesday night awaiting return to Akron.
Dean Michael, task force coordinator for the U.S. Marshals' Northern Ohio Violent Task Force Unit, said the charges stem from a July 8 slaying of a man in Akron.
Allegations
Akron police said Norman and another man, Michael Welch, 19, of 337 Noah Ave., Akron, were involved in a shootout at 3:26 a.m. July 8 in a parking lot on Plaza Boulevard, Akron. An innocent bystander, 23-year-old Christopher L. Harris, was fatally shot in the crossfire.
The YSU student directory says Norman lives on Inman Street in Akron and is a freshman with no declared major.
Akron police would not provide complete addresses for Welch or Harris, so their hometowns are unclear.
The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, Youngstown Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority and YSU police participated in Norman's arrest.
Akron police arrested Welch at the Summit County Jail, where he was being held on charges of violating probation and domestic violence. Welch is charged with attempted murder, felonious assault and carrying a concealed weapon.
Ron Cole, YSU spokesman, said university police would meet with the office of student affairs today to begin disciplinary action against Norman. That could include Norman's suspension from the university pending the outcome of the charges against him.
Cole said he is not aware of any past problems with Norman that led to any arrest on campus.