Homeowner charged in shooting death of teen

The suspects were secretly indicted in connection with the Hubbard Township homicide.

GIRARD — Two Masury residents are jailed on charges tied to the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy.

Karen Adams and Paul Sundy Jr., both of Stateline Road, were taken into police custody Thursday at the Girard Municipal Court.

They had been secretly indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury. The two are being investigated in the death of Robert Flynn, also of Masury.

Detective Mike Begeot of the Hubbard Township Police Department said Adams is charged with one count of murder with a gun specification, three counts of felonious assault and one felony count of tampering with evidence.

Sundy Jr. is charged with one count of tampering with evidence and one count of obstructing justice — both felonies.

Begeot said the two will be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. today in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court in Warren.

Adams was in the municipal court on a third-degree felony charge of tampering with evidence. Judge Michael Bernard was to conduct a preliminary hearing Thursday afternoon. But Begeot and Girard police then informed Adams and Sundy Jr. they were being arrested.

Both Adams and Sundy Jr. were handcuffed and escorted to vehicles outside the municipal building. Adams was placed in an unmarked Mercury Grand Marquis and Sundy Jr. was placed in a Girard police cruiser. Both were taken to the Trumbull County Jail.

The indictment surprised both Adams and Sundy Jr., who offered no comment.

Amy Hanlon, who was in the courtroom and said she is a friend of the pair, called the indictment “shocking.”

“They’re good people; they’re great people,” she said of Adams and Sundy Jr. “They don’t hurt people.”

Adams was arrested earlier this month after police found a .22-caliber gun in the 1628 Stateline Road home owned by Sundy Jr., who police said was dating Adams. Hubbard Police Chief Todd Coonce said the weapon was hidden from police.

Flynn was fatally shot Aug. 10 at the home after he and three teen friends reportedly drove to the house. Police said earlier that day the group called a teenage daughter of Sundy, who intercepted the call. A heated discussion ensued, and the boys arrived at the home around 2:30 a.m.

The shooting began shortly after, and the boys called 911 at 2:44. Flynn, who police believe was standing outside of the vehicle at the time, was shot once in the head. He was then taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, where he was pronounced dead. The Mahoning County coroner ruled Flynn’s death a homicide.

“It’s a tragic case all the way around,” Begeot said.

Begeot added that there are now no charges against any of the teens — but said he would continue to meet with the county prosecutor’s office in coming weeks.

Asked whether he anticipated any charges against the teens, he responded: “There are no charges at this time against any juveniles.”

Present for the preliminary hearing were Kayla Wagner and Krista Dorogy, both of Masury, who said they knew the victim.

“I’m just glad they’re in jail,” Dorogy said. “Now things can move forward, and the family can start having some questions answered.”

Wagner, the sister-in-law of the victim, said, “You should never take the law into your own hands.”

jmoffett@vindy.com