Police name a suspect in slaying at stadium

Sunday, August 20, 2006 Despite hundreds of people at the crime scene, few wanted to cooperate with police. By DAVID SKOLNICK VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER YOUNGSTOWN — Police are looking for a 25-year-old Youngstown man with a criminal record they believe is responsible for a fatal shooting in front of hundreds of people at a youth football game. Police said Anthony M. Caulton, also known as Anthony Pfeifer, is suspected of shooting Larry D. Jones of Ravenwood Avenue, Youngstown, at the former South High School football stadium behind Eagle Heights Academy. The crowd was estimated at between 500 and 800. Police said witnesses told them that Jones, 31, was shot several times on the walkway in front of the stadium's grandstand about 3:45 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses told police Jones then jumped over the rail onto the field to get away from the shooter, who followed, stood over Jones and fired several more shots into him before fleeing. The shooting on the field occurred near a group of cheerleaders, some as young as 4. Police said they asked numerous people if they witnessed the shooting, but no one would come forward, with some saying they didn't want to get involved for personal safety reasons. Police said they overheard someone in the crowd say the suspect's last name was Muldrow. Later on, a few witnesses identified Caulton as the shooter, but again insisted that they didn't want to get involved, police said. "That goes to a larger challenge we face," Mayor Jay Williams said. "There were that many people, and no one was able to provide information or wanted to provide information right away." What happened Police say Caulton and Jones got into a fight on Erie Street, near the stadium. Police didn't say what caused the argument. Jones ran into the stands of the stadium behind the charter school on Market Street assuming he would be safe in a crowd watching a Volney Rogers Youth Football League game between the Titans and the Sons of Thunder, police said. But Caulton followed Jones, police said. Jones punched Caulton, who then pulled a handgun and shot him several times on a walkway and then on the field, police said. Officers recovered seven spent 9 mm shell casings and one spent slug. Jones was taken from the field to St. Elizabeth Health Center, where he died. "That this person is so brazen to do this in front of so many people and at the feet of kids crosses the line," Williams said. Williams arrived at the stadium when he heard about the shooting. The mayor said he spoke to a group of kids who play football at the stadium and they told him they still wanted to play there. The city provides the football league money for insurance and officiating, Williams said. The mayor said he isn't clear if the city provides money for security for the league's games at the city-operated facility. "If we need to take on that responsibility, we'll do that," Williams said of security. Planning to seek help Williams said he would call U.S. Attorney Greg White of Ohio's Northern District on Monday to continue efforts to receive federal help to fight crime in Youngstown. Williams has had conversations and sent letters to White seeking this assistance. The mayor said he also plans to call U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, who represents Youngstown, as well as the state's two U.S. senators, if necessary, to lobby White to seek federal dollars to reduce violence in the city. At the end of this month, Williams and Police Chief Jimmy Hughes will attend a conference in Washington, D.C., to discuss ways to reduce violence. Williams said he read about the conference in a newspaper and called seeking invitations for him and Hughes. Police said they are familiar with Caulton, who has six addresses and has been arrested before. Caulton was charged in January with felony possession of cocaine. His case is still pending in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Caulton was found guilty in October 2004 of a felony count of escape in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. Caulton was among five men in a near riot in April of that year at the Eastwood Mall Expo Center in Niles after a rap concert. Caulton was handcuffed by police, but walked away from a police car with the cuffs still on. He was caught a short time later and charged with escape. This is the 18th homicide in Youngstown this year. The city had 23 homicides at this point last year, and 34 in 2005. skolnick@vindy.com