Man sentenced in shooting case

The shooting occurred after a store employee accused Jones of stealing a candy bar.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Talvinder Singh, an employee of Ohio Gas Mart on Glenwood Avenue who was shot in the chest in February, stood before Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court and spoke one sentence that was clearly understood:

“He almost killed me,” Singh said of 18-year-old Shawn Jones of Halleck Street.

Singh didn’t ask for a particular sentence for the man who shot him with a handgun at the store after an argument Feb. 3.

“You are the judge. You do whatever you want to,” he told Judge Durkin.

What Judge Durkin did was sentence Jones to six years in prison — three for attempted murder and three for committing his crime with a firearm.

“You are very lucky that Mr. Singh did not die, or you’d be looking at at least a life sentence,” Judge Durkin said. The bullet narrowly missed Singh’s heart.

The judge, however, said he and the attorneys in the case agree that someone only 18 who has no previous criminal record deserves a second chance to become a productive citizen.

Prosecutors have said Jones entered the store about 5:48 p.m. and argued with Singh. Jones then left the store but returned and fired one shot into Singh, prosecutors have said.

Terry A. Grenga, Jones’ attorney, said the argument began because Singh accused Jones of stealing a candy bar. She said a racial slur also may have been used.

“The fact that you could grab a gun and fire it at a moment’s notice speaks volumes about what is going on out there,” Judge Durkin said.