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Suspect sought in deadly Austintown ambush
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
The Westchester Executive Apartments in Austintown, site of a December 4th shooting that left one man dead and another wounded.
Staff report
AUSTINTOWN
Township police have no suspects in Saturday night’s double shooting at an upscale apartment complex that left one man dead and another critically wounded.
Police were called about 7 p.m. Saturday to the Westchester Executive Apartments to respond to reports of a double shooting.
A man who lived at Westchester died at the scene after he was shot four times while sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle in the parking lot of the apartment complex, Police Chief Robert Gavalier said.
Gavalier described the other victim — a passenger in the car — as being in “very serious critical condition” Sunday night.
The passenger suffered at least one gunshot wound to the lower back. He was taken to the St. Elizabeth Medical Center for treatment.
The names of both victims are to be released today, the chief said, after he meets with officials at the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office.
A witness saw a suspect running from the vehicle, Gavalier said.
When asked if the shootings were drug-related, the chief said, “We don’t know for sure what it was.”
Several residents at the apartment complex Sunday said they were aware of the shootings but did not see them or want to comment on them.
The chief said the shootings were unusual for the township and for the area near the executive apartments.
“We hardly get a call in that area,” Gavalier said.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation is assisting in the investigation.