Murderer gets 22 years to life in prison

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — A man who was convicted by a jury of murder and felonious assault with firearm specifications last month has been sentenced to 22 years to life in prison.

Lamar McKinney, 21, of Broadway, received the sentence Thursday from Judge Lou A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for the April 23, 2008, shooting death of Marcus Easterly, 31, of Lanterman Road, and the wounding of Easterly’s cousin, Derrell Easterly, 22, of Hammaker Street.

Police found Marcus Easterly bleeding from his chest on the ground in the 500 block of Griffith Street in the Westlake Terrace housing project, and he was later pronounced dead in St. Elizabeth Health Center. Derrell Easterly was shot in the leg.

Shots were fired after a fight between teenagers escalated and drew in adults, police said.

The sentence imposed on Mc-Kinney by Judge D’Apolito consisted of 15 years to life for the murder, four consecutive years for the felonious assault and three consecutive years for the combined gun specifications.