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Details remain sketchy in slaying of Masury boy, 15
The coroner has ruled the death of Robert Flynn a homicide.
HUBBARD — “Making bad decisions” is how Hubbard Township Police Chief Todd D. Coonce described the situation that led to the shooting of Robert Flynn.
Flynn, 15, of Ohio Street, Masury, was shot early Monday at 1628 S. Stateline Road and died in St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown.
Dr. David Kennedy, Mahoning County coroner, ruled Flynn’s death a homicide, the cause of death a single gunshot wound to the head.
Coonce said the investigation continues into what led up to the shooting.
He said Karen Adams, 29, of the Stateline Road address, was charged with tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. She was arraigned Tuesday in Girard Municipal Court, and her preliminary hearing will be at 9 a.m. Aug. 19; she remains in jail in lieu of a $10,000 surety bond.
Coonce said a .22-caliber gun was hidden from police, who recovered about a dozen guns at the residence of Paul Sundy of Stateline Road. Coonce did note that Sundy, a hunter, had mostly long guns. Coonce described Adams as the girlfriend of Sundy, the homeowner.
Three Trumbull County deputy sheriffs assisted in the property search. Hubbard Township Detective Mike Begeot is working with the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s office.
Coonce said events began with a phone call to the 16- or 17-year-old daughter of Sundy, who intercepted the call. A heated discussion ensued.
Coonce said he understood that two 17-year-old males, one 16-year-old male and Flynn knew the girl and were friends.
“The boys [including Flynn] made the decision to go over to the Sundy residence,” Coonce said. One of the 17-year-olds was driving.
They drove to the house a short time before 2:44 a.m., he said, noting that police are still sorting through the sequence of events that led to the shooting.
“We believe he was outside of the car when he was shot,” Coonce said.
The boys left the Stateline Road property and called Trumbull County 911 at 2:44 a.m. to report the shooting; police met them. Flynn was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Coonce said the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation will assist with the case. “They are processing the vehicle,” he said.
The youths were out after their curfew and should not have been driving.
Trumbull County has a curfew for those younger than 18 — midnight on weekends and 11 p.m. weekdays.
Also, Ohio has a graduated driver’s license for juvenile drivers age 15 to 17. Fifteen-year-olds must drive with a parent or guardian and can’t drive between midnight and 6 a.m. unless with a parent, guardian or legal custodian, explained Sgt. Ron Cox of the Ohio State Highway Patrol at Lisbon.
Also, 16-year-olds can’t drive with more than one person who is not a family member; they are restricted from driving between midnight and 6 a.m. unless with a parent or guardian.
Seventeen-year-olds can’t drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless with a parent or guardian. They may have no more than one other person, a nonfamily member, in the vehicle.
Seventeen-year-old drivers may operate a vehicle during other hours without an adult in the car; 15- and 16-year-olds cannot. Exceptions include juvenile drivers on their way to and from work, a school activity or an emergency situation.
linonis@vindy.com