Shooting victim’s condition prevents questioning

The man spent time in prison for shooting another man three years ago.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The condition of the man once wounded by cop killer Martin Koliser Jr. has prevented investigators from questioning him since he was shot early New Year’s Day.

Donell Rowe, 29, of East Avondale Avenue, was found lying on the ground near a sport-utility vehicle that had crashed into a porch in the 1100 block of Ivanhoe Avenue around 7 a.m. Thursday. His condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center on Monday was critical, said Capt. Kenneth Centorame, chief of detectives.

He said investigators believe Rowe was shot once in the left side by someone he knew, who was also in the SUV. Rowe took the SUV belonging to his girlfriend without permission and she reported the unauthorized use to police around 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day, police said.

Anyone who has information about the shooting is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at (330) 746-CLUE.

Rowe made news April 29, 2003, when he was shot at 12:15 a.m. by Koliser during an argument outside Casa Loma Gardens, a bar on Mahoning Avenue. Patrolman Michael T. Hartzell, who had been sent to the shooting scene, was later shot and killed by Koliser.

The officer was in his cruiser at a traffic light at West Federal Street and Vindicator Square at 2:19 a.m., heading back to the police station to finish reports, when Koliser approached and opened fire. Koliser and Hartzell had both ended up at the red light, just two blocks from the police station on Boardman Street.

Koliser, who was sentenced to death, committed suicide in prison.

In April 2006, Rowe was sentenced to three years’ in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault with a firearm specification and having a weapon under disability, based on a prior conviction. Vindicator files show Rowe and another man became involved in an argument near the intersection of South Heights and Sheridan avenues Dec. 10, 2005, and Rowe shot the man in the abdomen.