Moore gets 12 years for Petrosky killing

By Ed Runyan

WARREN — David Petrosky was not only a funny, beloved father and grandfather, he was also known well beyond Trumbull County’s borders for his knowledge of guns and gun repairs.

He also was writing a book, his sister said Tuesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

“On Nov. 10, 2008, Christopher Moore entered David’s home and shot David in the head. Now our family, our mother, David’s four children and four little grandchildren ask: Why did this senseless tragedy happen?” Barbara Eschman of Howland said during Moore’s sentencing hearing.

Moore didn’t explain fully why it happened, but in court Tuesday he did say that the shooting was an accident and apologized. Afterward, Judge Andrew Logan sentenced Moore to 12 years in prison.

Petrosky, 55, of Hall Street Northwest, was in terrific health because of his daily workouts at the downtown YMCA, games of tennis and long bike rides, Eschman said. He also liked to garden and had formed a youth basketball league at the YMCA.

The gunshot left a big hole in Petrosky’s head, shot out his teeth, blinded him and left him paralyzed, she said.

Ten days after the shooting, doctors told family members that the Copperweld Steel retiree would never recover, and the decision was made to remove him from life support, she said.

“We hope that every day for the rest of your life until you draw your last breath that you see David’s face before you and the look on his face before and after you pulled the trigger, ending the life of our David,” she said.

“We hope you have regrets and sadness for what you did to us. We hope that you are in prison for a very long time. We hope you are not back on the street where you could do the same thing to someone else,” Eschman said.

Prosecutors say the shooting took place during a robbery with Moore taking two guns from the home. The guns were found in Moore’s Roosevelt Street home after Moore called police to tell them about the shooting, but he didn’t tell police he was the shooter.

Moore pleaded guilty in October to involuntary manslaughter, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, two counts of grand theft, tampering with evidence and using weapons while intoxicated.

Brian Petrosky, one of David Petrosky’s sons, said Moore was a childhood friend of his and had been a visitor at the Petrosky house years ago.

Moore also had come to David Petrosky’s house several times in recent years, family members say. David Petrosky sometimes gave him food or small amounts of money, said another son, Anthony Petrosky.

runyan@vindy.com