Man found shot on East Side has been identified

YOUNGSTOWN — The man found shot dead behind his home at 1504 Shehy St. has been identified as Elmer Antonio Avilez-Landaverde.

Police were sent to the East Side duplex around 8:45 p.m. Sunday for a possible burglary in progress. They found Avilez-Landaverde, no age given, on his back, possibly shot in the back of the head.

A blood trail led from the hallway to the rear door and onto the cement porch. A .25-cal. handgun was found on the kitchen floor near the hallway.

One man in the house was taken into custody. Police then heard noises coming from upstairs and waited for backup to arrive.

The Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force Crisis Response Team and its large black attack vehicle dubbed The Bear responded and surrounded the duplex. Lt. Robin Lees, commander of the task force, said Patrolman Hector Bonilla, who speaks Spanish, was used as an interpreter to coax out the two men upstairs.

Lees said two Hispanic men came out around 11:15 p.m. He said the body couldn’t be removed until the area was made safe.

The three men taken into custody at the house were brought downtown to be questioned by Detective Sgts. John Kelty and Patrick Kelly. No arrests were made.

If the shooting is ruled a homicide, it would be the city’s 25th of the year.