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Judge reduces bond for murder suspect
Photo
Tyrell Ravnell
YOUNGSTOWN
A county judge has reduced the bond holding a city man in the Mahoning County jail after he was accused in a 2010 murder in Campbell.
Tyrell Ravnell, 21, of Halleck Street, is facing a murder charge in the death of 19-year-old Christian Blackshear, of Wirt Street, in the Kirwan Homes housing project in Campbell in June 2010. Ravnell has been in the county jail on a $1 million bond.
Ravnell had been represented by Attorney Robert Duffrin who made an oral motion to have Ravnell’s bond reduced to $25,000. Ravnell has since changed attorneys and is now being represented by Attorney Douglas Taylor.
Attorney Jennifer McLaughlin, an assistant county prosecutor, objected to any reduction in bond for Ravnell, but Judge John Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Wednesday reduced Ravnell’s bond from the original $1 million to $250,000 cash or surety.
Ravnell remains in the county jail.
Ravnell originally went on trial for the murder in January, but a jury of seven women and five men failed to reach a verdict in the case.
The jury began deliberating on a Thursday in the murder case, but by Tuesday informed Judge Durkin that they were deadlocked and could not reach a verdict in the case.
The split was six for conviction and six for acquittal.
Ravnell is accused of covering his face with a black rag, then approaching Blackshear and another man in the Kirwan Homes housing project.
Prosecutors say Ravnell shot Blackshear in the head at close range and ran off after telling the man with Blackshear to leave.
The January trial came with friction between those supporting Ravnell and members of the victim’s family.
One altercation between the two families was documented after 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.
In another incident, Blackshear’s 45-year-old mother told police she had become a victim of threats made in connection with the case.
The woman, in a police report, told officers she received several text messages of a threatening nature.