Man is hospitalized after East Side shooting

YOUNGSTOWN — A man who identified himself to police as Paul Mason, 36, of Minnesota was shot through both shoulders early Thursday on the East Side.

His condition was stable at St. Elizabeth Health Center.

Police were sent to the 2600 block of McGuffey Road around 3:15 a.m. The victim said he was shot by a man who accused him of being “rude” at a gas station. He did not know the exact location of the service station.

The victim, before losing consciousness at the scene, was unable to explain how he got away from the gunman. Police traced keys he had in his possession to a motel in Austintown.

The clerk said there was a Paul Mason registered but he had not provided identification, police said.

Police called a long-distance number provided by the motel and spoke to a woman who identified herself as Mason’s wife, saying he had lost his driver’s license several months ago.

The 2007 GMC Sierra that Mason had been driving was towed and held for detectives. Police collected his property, including $1,907, two motel keys and a cell phone.