Strengthen security at killing site, officials say

By Ed Runyan | May 18, 2011 at 12:06a.m.

Rev. Stringer

WARREN

Two Warren city council members and several Warren ministers met with Hampshire House residents and reporters Tuesday to call for the apartment-complex owners to increase security patrols after the second homicide of 2011 there.

Sixth Ward Councilwoman Cheryl Saffold, whose ward includes the complex, said she was sending a letter to ABC Management of Cleveland, asking for more security.

A call to ABC Management by The Vindicator was not returned.

Saffold said residents need to be more involved in reporting crime, such as taking down license-plate numbers of those traveling through the apartments who don’t belong there.

“They need 24/7 security over here, and I think something’s going to have to be done. This is two murders that have happened over here this year,” the Rev. Robert Stringer said, pointing behind him to the apartment complex on Fifth Street Southwest.

Stringer is pastor of New Freedom Missionary Baptist Church, less than a block south of the apartments.

Stringer was among those who gathered at Fifth Street and Tod Avenue Southwest near the apartments, and near Jefferson K-8 School.

“We’re are here because we care what happened in Hampshire House,” Saffold said. “Two murders recently and numerous more over the years.”

DeAngelo McCoy, 24, of Third Street Southwest, was shot fatally at the apartments Sunday morning. Police are looking for a Youngstown man in connection with the crime.

A Hampshire House resident, Sharmaine Delaney, 20, was found shot to death in her bed early Jan. 31. Police have not made any arrests in that case.

Tynisha Clark, 28, a mother of two who lives in Hampshire House, said she is frustrated that only a couple of Hampshire House residents out of about 200 attended the rally, even though Saffold knocked on doors throughout the complex to tell residents about it.

“I think it’s good that people living outside of [Hampshire House] are rallying, but the people in the complex are not here. People say they’re scared for their security, but they’re not out here.”

Clark was among several people who said the two 2011 homicides seem to be the fault of visitors, not apartment residents.

“I fear for my grandbabies in Hampshire House. I fear for my daughter. It’s the people who come into Hampshire House who cause all the problems,” said Minister Sandra Dowell, who lives near the apartments.

“You have to mind the company you keep.”

Councilwoman Helen Rucker said she believes the complex needs to do a better job of screening residents.