Language barrier slows probe of death of man

The suspects were likely intent on robbery, a city detective says.

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

Detective Sgt. John Kelty said the victim was probably an illegal immigrant. He said so many of the people he and Detective Sgt. Patrick Kelly have come across in the investigation speak very little English, which has slowed progress.

Kelty said Detective Sgt. Jose Morales, who speaks Spanish, is acting as interpreter.

Investigators have at least two suspects, maybe more, in what appears to be robbery, Kelty said. He called it a crime of opportunity, with the robbers striking Sunday evening after Avilez-Landaverde had returned home from working at a pallet-making business on Wilson Avenue.

“We have a couple of persons of interest we’d like to talk to,” Kelty said. “Someone tried to force their way in the house.”

Police were sent to the East Side duplex on Shehy 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-caliber handgun was found on the kitchen floor near the hallway.

One man in the house was taken into custody for questioning. 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 Pete 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 Kelty and Kelly. No arrests were made.

The shooting is the city’s 25th homicide of the year. There were 18 homicides at this time last year.