2 students plead innocent in drive-by death of 17-year-old

YOUNGSTOWN — Two high school students pleaded innocent this morning to charges of murder in the drive-by shooting death of 17-year-old Maressia Patterson.

Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly set bond at $750,000 for both the alleged shooter Deon Glenn, 18, and Robert Jackson Jr., 18, his alleged driver.

Police do not believe Patterson, 17, and Akeem Minor, 17, were the intended victims in the shooting which took place early Saturday morning on Ford Avenue.

Officers found Patterson unresponsive after being struck in the back. According to witness accounts, she was leaving a Lora Avenue party with Minor when she was struck in the back. Minor was shot in the leg.

Patterson was pronounced dead after being transported to St. Elizabeth Health Center. Minor was not seriously injured.

City Prosecutor Jay Macejko said the shooting is believed to have been motivated by an ongoing rivalry between students of Rayen and Chaney high schools. Students from both schools are reported to have advanced threats on the online social networking site Myspace.com. A fight was to have taken place at the party, witnesses reported, he said.

Glenn is charged with murder and felonious assault. Jackson is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence. Both men are scheduled for a pretrial hearing June 5 at 10:30.