Saturday, April 17, 2010
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
YOUNGSTOWN
A city family recently buried one of their own, gunned down on the North Side, and now they believe his killers are trying to intimidate other family members.
Brian Greer, 32, of Republic Avenue, was shot and killed March 29 on Lauderdale Avenue. He had been shot once in the head and multiple times in the body. He was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Witnesses said someone drove past the residence firing at the house when Greer was shot.
Wanda Greer, Brian’s mother, in the midst of burying her son, called for an end to the violence in the city, but it appears someone has not received the message.
Members of the Greer family told police this week they have heard rumors about who is responsible for the murder of Brian and that person has been slowly driving past the family home smirking at family members.
Wanda Greer did not speak about the man driving past her home but did say she is continuing the grieving process for her son and planning a vigil in the coming weeks.
Capt. Rod Foley, chief of detectives, said the department is aware of the reported acts of intimidation and are looking into the matter. He said authorities have legal avenues to address such activity.
“We can get restraining orders and talk to the prosecutor’s office to look at any intimidation charges or anything that can be applied,” he said.
Foley said the family and those close to the family should compile any and all information concerning the acts of intimidation, such as descriptions and license-plate numbers, and forward it to police. He said it also is helpful to have a third party witness the acts.
No arrest has been made in Greer’s murder, but Foley said police are aggressively working the case and following leads.
“We have a lot of leads and are coming along with the investigation well,” he said.