Police seek help in finding suspect in shooting

May 11, 2011 at 12:04a.m.

Devante Gilmore

YOUNGSTOWN

Police believe Devante Gilmore helped gun down a 16-year-old on the city’s East Side, and now they want the public’s help in finding him.

Gilmore, 18, is wanted in the March shooting of De’Vail Fleeton, 16, of the city’s North Side. De’Vail was shot and killed while visiting a female friend on the East Side.

Witnesses told police five black men wearing black, hooded sweat shirts and red ball caps chased Fleeton on March 26 from the Plaza View Apartments across Stewart Avenue and McGuffey Road, firing at the teen as he ran. After he fell, the suspects ran back into Plaza View.

Fleeton had been shot once in the back and later died of that gunshot wound.

Mark Gillette of the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force said a warrant was issued for Gilmore’s arrest April 1, and officers have been trying to find him since that date. He said police have not been able to locate Gilmore, but not from lack of trying.

“He has been viewed as fugitive of the week two times, and nothing has come out of that. We have made up wanted fliers, and he is on two billboards in the area, but we have not gotten any calls,” Gillette said.

A Mahoning County grand jury indicted Curtis Jones, 18, of Maplewood Avenue, on a murder charge in Fleeton’s death, but Gillette said he has no idea where Gilmore may be hiding. Jones is in Mahoning County jail on a $500,000 bond.

“We picked up the one guy, but we have just been looking for Devante Gilmore,” he said. “Our efforts have been unsuccessful to this point, and we are asking for the public’s help.”

Gillette said often younger people wanted by police for serious crimes are harder to track down because they do not have things such as children, career or other obligations to tie them to one location. He said that is why help from the public is critical in finding the 18-year-old.

Gillette said it is important to remember that information from the public leading to an arrest and conviction can lead to monetary awards for the tipster. He said anyone with information is encouraged to call him at 330-502-3052.