Youngstown man convicted of murder

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A seven-man, five-woman jury convicted a city man of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and receiving stolen property and of a gun specification in the December 2003 death of Robert Smith.

After 81/2 hours of deliberations, the jury returned its verdicts Tuesday against Darrin L. Moore, 27, of Willis Avenue, in the courtroom of Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Sentencing will be at 9 a.m. Friday.

Moore’s 2006 conviction in this case was reversed on appeal, and his retrial began Feb. 15.

Moore and Damon Clark of Youngstown saw Smith sitting in a car outside a North Garland Avenue bar, prosecutors said.

Moore took the car keys from Smith, 29, of Eliot Lane, then shot Smith in the back and lower torso as he ran away, police said. Police found the burned car a few days later on Salt Springs Road.

Clark is set for trial by jury in August before Judge Evans on an aggravated- murder charge.