Man shot several times

Man shot several times
YOUNGSTOWN -- A man found lying under the Arby's marquee at 3130 Market St. around 3 a.m. Friday had been shot several times, police said.
The victim, Leroy M. Thomas, 37, of West Indianola Avenue, was in critical condition Friday night at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Rural Metro Ambulance paramedics who transported him to the hospital told police they had heard gunfire while standing outside their office at 3121 Market.
A car found near Thomas was towed and held for detectives.
Man reports carjacking
YOUNGSTOWN -- A man who crashed his sport utility vehicle on Interstate 680 at 1:30 a.m. Friday told police that he had been carjacked at gunpoint in a parking lot on Poland Avenue and ordered into the front passenger seat. The 36-year-old Kensington Avenue man said one carjacker got into the driver's seat and two others got into the back seats. Once on I-680, the victim said he grabbed the driver and, during the struggle, the vehicle overturned. He said he climbed out the rear window and ran, reports show.
Man jailed in rape case
WARREN -- A 19-year-old city man is in Trumbull County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond after pleading innocent at his initial court appearance on a rape charge Friday morning.
Oshah M. Porch of Duke Avenue Southeast is scheduled before Municipal Judge Terry F. Ivanchak at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
Porch, who was arrested on a warrant Thursday at his residence, is charged with raping a 52-year-old woman at 10 p.m. April 4 in the woods behind the Christy House homeless shelter, 917 Main Ave. S.W., where she was staying.
House to be demolished
LISBON -- The Columbiana County commissioners voted Friday to pay Barnstone Supply Co. of Leetonia $15,975 to tear down a vacant house.
The two-story, white frame building at 223 N. Market St. was built in 1930.
Commissioner Chairman Sean Logan said village authorities have sent two notices to the commissioners about the building's poor condition.
Barnstone will resell much of the wood, stone, slate and windows to builders. The house had once been used as offices for the county's public defenders.
NRA backs 2 candidates
The National Rifle Association is supporting state Rep. Chuck Blasdel, an East Liverpool Republican, and state Sen. Charlie Wilson, a St. Clairsville Democrat, in their respective political party primaries. Blasdel is among four Republicans on the May 2 primary ballot. Wilson is running as a write-in candidate with two Democrats having their names on the primary ballot. The NRA has about 130,000 members in Ohio and is the largest pro-Second Amendment organization in the country.
Police probe rape of girl
BOARDMAN -- A mother reported to township police that her 14-year-old daughter had been raped.
The mother told police the rape happened after the girl was followed home from a friend's house, the police report says.
The rape, which occurred Tuesday inside the girl's South Avenue home, was not reported until Thursday. Police are collecting evidence and investigating.
Man charged in burglary
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Jorden Bessell, 20, of Mercer Road is charged with burglary, possession of stolen property, theft and possession of firearms in the April 12 burglary of a Neshannock Township home. Police said jewelry, money and about 30 firearms were taken. Police said they recovered 16 firearms in Bessemer the next day and later through investigation and interviews found three additional guns. Police said Bessell was arraigned before District Justice Jerry Cartwright and placed in Lawrence County Jail after failing to post $25,000 bond.
Woman robbed of purse
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 21-year-old East Florida Avenue woman told police that her purse was taken at gunpoint in the 40 block of Pasadena Avenue around 1:30 a.m. Friday. The woman said she and a friend had met a few young men at a pizza shop on Market Street and later joined them in front of a house on Pasadena. One of the men they joined said goodbye and then returned with the gun, reports show.