He’s no ‘animal,’ cousin of Warren killing suspect says

By Ed Runyan

None of the three men accused in the crime are eligible to make bond.

WARREN — A cousin of murder suspect Eugene M. Henderson says Henderson surrendered to police because he is innocent and not the “animal” that Tim Bowers, acting Warren police chief, called him.

“He cannot be called an animal. He’s the kindest person in the world,” Minion Patterson said Friday outside of Warren Municipal Court, where Henderson was arraigned on two counts of aggravated murder.

“I know in my heart that my cousin would not do this, especially to children. That’s the reason he turned himself in,” she said.

Patterson said she had a conversation with Henderson, 25, before he surrendered Thursday about whether he should leave the area.

“Why should I go anywhere if I didn’t do anything,” Patterson said Henderson told her.

Bowers, in announcing Thursday that arrest warrants had been issued for Henderson and Eugene Cumberbatch, said, “Any help would be appreciated to get these animals off the street.” Bowers also called the men murderers.

Henderson and Cumberbatch are charged with killing 11-year-old Lloyd McCoy Jr. and 26-year-old Marvin J. Chaney, 26, of Fifth Street Southwest in a drive-by shooting April 13 at a house on Wick Street Southeast.

The boy, who lived across the street, was at the house visiting his sister, Brittnay McCoy, and her 3-year-old son, Joshua, while Chaney was there because he was dating Brittnay. Joshua also was hit in the shoulder by gunfire but is recovering.

Another cousin of Henderson’s, Grady Henderson, said he thought Bowers’ remarks were improper. “I thought you were innocent until proven guilty,” he said.

Grady Henderson said his cousin and Chaney “hung around together” the last he knew. Henderson family members said they didn’t know Cumberbatch, 26, of Front Street Southwest.

Warren police issued warrants for the two men Thursday. Cumberbatch was arrested by police just after midnight Friday at a home on Front Street.

On the flier police handed out Thursday showing Henderson’s photo, it said Henderson “is known to be in possession of an AK-47 assault rifle,” which is a reference to one type of weapon police believe was used in the 9:50 p.m. drive-by, which left about 20 bullet holes in the front of the house.

A flier for Cumberbatch said he “may be in possession of a firearm.”

Judge Thomas Gysegem of Warren Municipal Court entered innocent pleas for both men to two counts each of aggravated murder and ruled that neither man is eligible to be released from the Trumbull County Jail on bond.

Henderson and Cumberbatch will appear for a preliminary hearing within 10 days in municipal court unless a Trumbull County grand jury indicts them before then, Judge Gysegem said.

The judge said the penalty for aggravated murder is death, life in prison without parole, or life in prison with parole eligibility after 20, 25 or 30 years.

Police arrested a third man, Marcus L. Yager, 22, of Vine Avenue Northeast, on Tuesday in the case and charged with complicity to murder. He also is jailed without eligibility for bond.

runyan@vindy.com