Refuse to succumb, mayor says

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 YOUNGSTOWN — Mayor Jay Williams said it would be "unfortunate" if the shooting death of a man at a pee-wee football game Saturday results in suburban teams deciding not to play in Youngstown in the future. "This is an isolated incident," Williams said Tuesday, noting that pee-wee games have been played in the city for decades without anything like this occurring. Larry Jones, 31, of Ravenwood Avenue, was fatally wounded by a man during a game Saturday at the former South High School football stadium. No arrests have been made, but police said they have persons of interest they are seeking in the case. No one can ever guarantee complete safety, but the city will make every effort to make the venue as safe as possible, Williams said. The mayor said he is working with the Volney Rogers Youth Football League to hold another game at South Stadium. It's important for the community to show it won't be controlled by the type of individual involved in the shooting, the mayor said.