Accused, victims attended Rayen

One murder suspect had been out on $15,000 bond pending a robbery trial.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Four teenagers -- two shot to death, two accused -- had one thing in common: They once attended The Rayen School.
Ted Terlesky, chief of schools' security, said Monday that the dead boys, Troy Barlow and Jaimie Helms, both 16, and the shooting suspects, Devron Pinkard, 18, and Adrian M. Sims, 16, are former Rayen students.
He referred questions about whether they dropped out or were expelled to school district spokesman Mike McNair, who could not be reached.
Pinkard and Sims, meanwhile, were both wanted on warrants before the double homicide Saturday on the East Side.
Pinkard, of Park Vista Drive, was wanted on a municipal court warrant issued in April that charges intimidation of a victim, and a pickup order for Sims, of West Marion Avenue, had been issued by juvenile court. He failed to show for a parole status hearing, a court official said.
Pinkard and Sims, knowing they were wanted in the double slaying, turned themselves in to police at noon Sunday at a house on Cooper Street.
Pinkard was taken to the Mahoning County jail and Sims to the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center.
About the shooting
Detective Sgt. Rick Spotleson said he believes robbery was the motive for the Saturday evening shooting deaths of Barlow, of Breaden Street, and Helms, of Cornell Street. The victims were found in the backyard of 1630 Park Vista Drive, both shot in the head.
Police had responded to reports of gunfire in the neighborhood.
Pinkard was expected to be arraigned today in municipal court on two counts of aggravated murder. Sims was arraigned Monday afternoon in juvenile court.
Pinkard was video-arraigned Monday in municipal court on the intimidation charge. Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr. set bond at $500,000 and a preliminary hearing for May 30.
When the judge asked Pinkard his source of income, the defendant answered that his uncle supports him.
The judge said Pinkard will receive a court-appointed lawyer.
Bassil Ally, an assistant city prosecutor, said Pinkard, when still a juvenile, kidnapped a 14-year-old girl, put a gun to her head and beat her with the gun.
Then, as an adult, he threatened her, which resulted in the victim/witness intimidation charge that was filed last month, Ally said.
Anthony D'Apolito, juvenile court administrator, said the kidnapping case had been set for trial last month, and Pinkard was expected to enter a plea. Instead, Pinkard wanted a new lawyer, and the case remains pending.
In February, Pinkard was indicted in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on charges of aggravated robbery and kidnapping with a firearm specification. He has been free on $15,000 bond. The case is set for trial June 7.
The robbery took place in January at McGuffey Road and Dryden Avenue, close to the Gillam and Associates' office. The victim told Annie Gillam, wife of Councilman Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st, that he'd just been robbed and the suspect was walking away.
The Gillams' 42-year-old son, Arnold, walked with the robbery suspect, later identified as Pinkard, until police arrived.
meade@vindy.com