No motives yet found for two overnight murders

YOUNGSTOWN — Two men died in two separate shootings about two hours apart Wednesday night and this morning.

At 11:35 p.m., police found Sterling Floyd, 40, lying on a hallway floor in the 1700 block of Cromwell Street on the city’s East Side, not breathing or moving, with a large amount of blood covering his upper body, and a pistol on the hallway floor near Floyd’s body. Police reports did not give a home address for Floyd.

When police arrived at the scene, a man shouted to them that his friend was in the hallway and had been shot.

While police were securing the crime scene, about 10 members of Floyd’s family arrived and were escorted away by police who asked them to leave because officers needed to preserve undisturbed evidence at the scene.

Witnesses told police they heard gunfire, but they didn’t see the shooting.

At 1:32 a.m., police found the body of Terrance Crum, 38, of East Lucius Avenue, lying face down on the front porch at 550 E. Boston Ave. on the city’s South Side, with several gunshot wounds to his body and head. Police found several rifle shell casings by the steps to the house.

Ambulance personnel told police Crum showed no signs of life.

During the shooting, the houses at 550, 554 and 558 E. Boston were struck by bullets, police said.

Police responding to a report of gunfire, spoke to a witness who told them there was a man lying on the front porch at 550 E. Boston and said she was awakened by someone on the front porch yelling “Help me! Help me!”

While speaking to a 911 call taker, the witness reported seeing several flashes and hearing several gunshots. Another witness told police he saw a small gold or silver car arrive at the scene, heard gunshots and saw people running. He then said he heard someone run back to the car and someone yell “Ouch!”

Police reports did not state a motive for either shooting and there were no reports of any arrests. Police reports contained no description of suspects in either homicide.

For more on this story, see Friday’s Vindicator or vindy.com