Man, 20, charged in stabbing death

LAKE MILTON — One stab wound killed a 28-year-old Diamond man, the coroner said.

The death of Eric E. Showalter has been ruled a homicide by Mahoning County Coroner David M. Kennedy. Showalter was pronounced dead at 10:06 p.m. Thursday at St. Elizabeth Health Center.

After the fatal stabbing, Milton Township police arrested Edward A. Miller Jr., 20, of Rose Lawn Avenue on a charge of aggravated murder. Miller was booked into the Mahoning County Jail pending arraignment next week in Mahoning County Area Court in Austintown.

Police were called at 9:20 p.m. Thursday from 17679 Mahoning Ave., the El Carlos Mexican Restaurant. The coroner’s report shows that Showalter and another man had been involved in a confrontation and the stabbing took place in a restaurant in the township .

Michael Saltsman, Milton Township police chief, however, said: “All indications are the altercation occurred in the parking lot of the Lake Shore Plaza, which is across from El Carlos.”

Denise Miller, who identified herself as the owner of El Carlos, also said the fight actually occurred in the plaza parking lot shortly after El Carlos closed at 9 p.m.

She identified Edward Miller (no relation) as an employee but said there was no confrontation in the restaurant.

When police arrived, Showalter was across the street at the Plaza and treated there by paramedics before being taken to the hospital.

Saltsman said he could not elaborate on the charges as the case remains under investigation.