Trial begins for North Side man charged in 2008 murder, assault

YOUNGSTOWN — Testimony has begun in the murder and felonious assault trial of Lamar McKinney, 21, of Broadway, in the April 2008 shooting death of Marcus Easterly and wounding of Derrell Easterly.

Prosecution witnesses began testifying this afternoon before Judge Lou A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court after jurors viewed the shooting scene.

Police found Marcus Easterly, 30, of Lanterman Road, bleeding from his chest on the ground in the 500 block of Griffith Street in the Westlake Terrace housing project, and he was later pronounced dead in St. Elizabeth Health Center.

Derrell Easterly, 22, of Hammaker Street, was wounded in the leg. Police reports did not state his relationship to the deceased.

Shots were fired after a fight between young teenagers escalated and drew in adults, police said.