Man pleads guilty in ’06 death

The prosecution recommends a 16-year prison sentence.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — A man charged with committing aggravated murder with an assault rifle two years ago has pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter.

Darrin Davis, 19, of East Florida Avenue, entered his plea Thursday before Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, who will sentence him at 10 a.m. March 20.

Davis was charged in the Dec. 30, 2006, incident, in which Anthony Perez, 31, of Plazaview Court, was fatally shot, and gunfire was directed at Perez’s brother, William Burr, 27, of East Midlothian Boulevard, Struthers, as Perez and Burr detailed a car on Clearmount Drive.

Police said the South Side shooting stemmed from an argument over the alleged theft of a car.

Davis pleaded guilty as charged to the attempted murder and abduction of Burr, who was restrained at the scene, and to a firearm specification. None of the bullets fired that night hit Burr.

The prosecution is recommending a prison sentence of 16 years for Davis, who was bound over from juvenile court to face adult court proceedings.

Davis’ brother, Reshaud Biggs, 22, of East Florida Avenue, had pleaded guilty to abduction and being a felon with a gun Tuesday in the same incident and agreed to testify against Davis and any others who might be charged in this case.

The prosecution is recommending a three-year prison term for Biggs when Judge Evans sentences him at 10 a.m. March 4.

Burr, who was to testify concerning Perez’s death, was fatally shot July 8, 2007, outside a South Avenue pizza shop.

Last week, a jury acquitted Dion D. Weatherspoon, 20, of Hilton Avenue, of aggravated murder and the lesser-included offense of murder in Burr’s death after a trial before Judge Maureen A. Sweeney.