Two people charged in robbery-homicide

A third suspect is being sought.

YOUNGSTOWN — Two people who told police they witnessed a St. Patrick’s Day robbery- homicide have been charged with the crime, and more suspects are being sought.

Sarah L. Beck, 37, and Hassan Merriweather, 22, were arrested over the weekend and video-arraigned Monday in municipal court. Beck is charged with murder and aggravated robbery; Merriweather is charged with complicity to aggravated robbery.

Magistrate Tony Sertick Jr. set Beck’s bond at $1.4 million and Merriweather’s at $250,000. They will be back in court Monday.

Bassil Ally, assistant city prosecutor, told the magistrate that Beck had “a big hand” in preparation and execution of the crime. Demar L. Flores, 18, of Eliot Lane, was shot multiple times in the driveway of 54 Rutledge Drive around 9:50 p.m. March 17 and later died at a hospital from his injuries.

His funeral was Monday, around the time Beck and Merriweather were being arraigned.

Beck and Merriweather’s new addresses weren’t immediately known. They had been staying at 54 Rutledge, but it was deliberately set on fire the day after the shooting.

A third suspect, Charles E. Smith Jr., 29, of East Florida Avenue (last known address), is being sought on murder and aggravated robbery charges, said Capt. Kenneth Centorame, chief of detectives. He expects the investigation will lead to more arrests.

Centorame called exceptional the work by Detective Sgt. Brad Blackburn, lead investigator, and Detective Sgts. Patrick Kelly and Daryl Martin. The investigation points to a planned robbery, with Flores being lured to the house on Rutledge by someone who called him.

“Conflicting statements from the two supposed witnesses drew attention from detectives,” Centorame said. “Smith saw [Flores’] car pull into the driveway and knew when to spring the robbery.”

The night of the murder, Beck told police she was in her driveway, talking to Flores, when the shooting took place. She and Merriweather told police that two suspects, likely both in their 20s and both dressed in black, approached from the rear yard and one demanded money before shooting Flores in the back as he ran.

Last week, when asked if the account given by the witnesses was credible, Centorame said, “We’re looking into that.”

He said Blackburn intended to question Beck’s two sons, who were reportedly inside the house while she was in the driveway.

One of the sons, 19-year-old Lorelle Beck, filed a police report last Tuesday, telling officers that he and a neighbor were assaulted at 7 p.m. that day by nine or 10 men who confronted them in the 100 block of Rutledge. One of the assailants allegedly said: “Why were you involved in my cousin getting killed?”

A few hours later, at 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, the house at 54 Rutledge was set on fire. No one was home at the time. The fire was set in a rear bedroom. Fire Capt. Alvin Ware has said the damage was extensive and the house would be demolished.

The victim’s mother, Sonia Flores, said last week that her son used to hang out with the two young men who lived at 54 Rutledge. She and John Harris, the victim’s stepdad, both said the robbery-shooting was a setup.

First officers on the scene found Flores on his stomach in the driveway and Merriweather leaning over him. At the time, Merriweather told police that he had been in the passenger seat of Flores’ car.

Centorame, though, said Merriweather was already at 54 Rutledge when Flores pulled into the driveway.

The car Flores was driving, a 1992 Oldsmobile, had bullet holes on the driver’s side. Four casings were found near the house and driveway.