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Campbell murder case ends with mistrial
Photo
Tyrell Ravnell
Victim’s mother cites threats; prosecutors promise to launch second trial for Ravnell
YOUNGSTOWN
A jury in the murder trial of Tyrell Ravnell failed to reach a verdict after several days of deliberations as the victim’s mother tells police she is afraid for her safety after perceived threats she alleges are from the suspect’s family.
A seven-woman, five-man jury began deliberating Thursday in the murder case against the 21-year-old Halleck Street man, but by 2:30 p.m. Tuesday informed Judge Jack Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court that they were deadlocked and could not reach a verdict in the case. The split was six for conviction and six for acquittal.
Ravnell was then returned to the county jail. He is accused of covering his face with a black rag, then approaching Christian Blackshear, 19, of Wirt Street, and another man in the Kirwan Homes housing project in Campbell on June 20. Prosecutors say Ravnell shot Blackshear in the head at close range and ran off after telling the man with Blackshear to leave.
Blackshear’s 45-year-old mother told police she has become a victim of threats made in connection with the case. The woman, in a police report filed Friday, told officers she received several text messages of a threatening nature.
The woman told officers she was waiting on jury deliberations with family members when she received text messages warning her not to go to the courthouse, but to go to a location in Niles instead.
She told police there have been minor incidents between the victim’s and defendant’s families during the trial, and she is concerned for her family’s safety.
Members of the victim’s family declined to speak with reporters after the court proceedings Tuesday.
One altercation between the two families was documented last week. Deputies said members from the two families had a short verbal dispute in the hallway outside the courtroom Jan. 11. Deputies intervened and made those arguing leave the building. The argument continued outside, and deputies made the individuals involved leave the area.
There was no physical altercation, and no arrests were made.
Judge Durkin, after the declaration of a mistrial, said the court did request an extra deputy inside the courtroom because of the high volume of spectators. He would not speak on safety precautions for any upcoming trial, but did say deputies from the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department are capable of handling security.
“As much as emotions run high in any case where the charges are as serious as this, I can tell you that the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department did a tremendous job to make sure the courtroom is safe,” he said. “I am sure their work will carry over to future court proceedings.”
Jennifer McLaughlin, an assistant county prosecutor, said the prosecutor’s office has every intention on trying the case again. She would not speak on any new strategies except to say that the evidence in the case speaks for itself.
Jurors in the case refused to speak to reporters except one woman who did not give her name, but was clearly in favor of conviction in the case.
“They really need to get that guy. I just feel bad about what happened. That’s all I have to say,” she said as she left the courtroom.