Police identify shooting victim

The victim’s mother says she hadn’t seen her son for about a year.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — Detectives are asking for the public’s help in solving the city’s latest homicide.

Police have identified the victim as 26-year-old Patrick Hart, who was found about 6 p.m. Friday in his apartment at 959 Tod Ave. N.W.

Detective Wayne Mackey asked that anyone with information contract him or Detective Mike Cunningham at (330) 841-2684.

The Trumbull County Coroner’s Office has ruled the death a homicide, saying Hart died of a bullet wound of the chest.

Mackey said Hart was found in the kitchen of the second-floor apartment. No arrests have been made.

Mackey said it appeared there was sign of forced entry, and no murder weapon was found.

Capt. Tim Roberts said the motive is not known, “but we’re working on a couple angles.”

Colleen Miles, Hart’s mother, who lives in Texas, said Monday that she hadn’t seen her son since November 2006.

She said that her son didn’t have her phone number and she didn’t have his because they had both moved since they had last seen each other.

Miles, who lives in Bullard, Texas, with her fiancé, Bob Long, said that her son worked at fast-food restaurants and that she didn’t know why anyone would want to kill him.

Miles and Long lived in Youngstown. Hart was a Chaney High School graduate. The couple moved from Youngstown in 2006 to Mississippi and then to Texas, Long said, noting that Hart wanted to remain in the area with his friends when he and Miles left Youngstown.

Long said his work in the surface mine industry keeps them moving around.

Long explained that Hart was a “typical teenager” — in and out of trouble but nothing violent. He has been working odd jobs since high school graduation, the latest being at McDonald’s.

Hart’s body will be cremated and the ashes shipped to Texas, Miles explained.

yovich@vindy.com