Damous sentenced to 12 years in shooting death of city man

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The defendant in a fatal shooting last June has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

On Monday, visiting Judge Thomas P. Curran sentenced Damon Damous to nine years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the death of Lawrence E. Anderson II, plus three consecutive years for the firearm specification.

Damous, 26, of West Marion Avenue, who was initially charged with murder, pleaded guilty in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court last month to involuntary manslaughter with a firearm specification.

Anderson, 22, of East Pasadena Avenue, was fatally shot June 11, 2008, at a residence in the 200 block of Clarencedale Avenue, the prosecution said. Anderson’s mother reported him missing the next day.

Anderson’s body was found last June 30 in the basement of a vacant West Glenaven Avenue apartment complex. Four medium-caliber bullet slugs were removed from Anderson’s body during the autopsy, two in his pelvis and two in his trunk.

Damous was jailed in Akron on an unrelated charge when Youngstown police issued the murder warrant for him last July 1.

A key prosecution witness, who gave police a detailed statement about the shooting shortly after it occurred, recanted that statement.

Damous will get credit for the 259 days he has already been jailed.