Name released of boy killed in crash

By Karl Henkel | July 17, 2011 at 12:06a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Police Chief Jimmy Hughes has released the name of the 9-year-old boy killed during a police chase late Thursday night on Youngstown’s South Side.

Da’Shawn Johnson of Youngstown was a passenger in a Ford Explorer driven by his mother, 27-year-old Tammy Sadler of Youngstown, when it was struck by a stolen Ford Taurus driven by Allen Jerome Thompson, 16, of Trumbull Court in Liberty.

Hughes told The Vindicator on Saturday that Thompson has a lengthy record of felony arrests outside of Youngstown.

According to Officer Brian Booksing, Da’Shawn died after being ejected from the SUV in the crash.

Sadler and another passenger, 11-year-old Tabrasia Gray, were taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center. Hughes did not know their relationship.

Hughes said the family is “taking the loss hard,” adding that the accident caused more emotional distress than physical to the two survivors.

Thompson also was injured in the crash, was treated and later turned over to police.

Lt. Brian Butler of the police department’s internal affairs division said the pursuit lasted less than a minute. The department is investigating; Hughes did not announce a time line for the completion of the investigation.

Funeral arrangements for Da’Shawn have not been finalized; his family is to meet Monday with L.E. Black Phillips & Holden Funeral Home.

The death was not the only one resulting from a recent police chase. Last month, 19-year-old Satavia Douglass of Southern Boulevard crashed her car into a Wick Avenue church and later died due to head injuries from the crash.