DNA played major role in Campbell killing case
By jeanne starmack
campbell
DNA has been an “amazing” tool and has helped police identify suspects in major crimes, including the murder of a young man last summer, says Detective Sgt. John Rusnak.
Anthony Harrison, 20, of Chambers Street was shot at 10:15 p.m. Aug. 6 on Tremble Avenue near 13th Street while he and a friend were walking home from a church festival. Police have said the motive was likely robbery. The friend was shot in the leg.
Dreon Williams, 18, of Eliot Lane on Youngstown’s East Side, was arrested in the killing in March. Prosecutors are deliberating whether to charge him as a juvenile or an adult because he was 17 when the murder occurred.
His brother, Dionte Robinson, 19, also of Eliot Lane, was indicted in the slaying Thursday. He’ll be arraigned June 7.
Police found two sweat jackets and two handguns behind a building on Tremble on the night of the killing. They gave the evidence to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.
The BCII’s tests showed DNA on some of the evidence was a match to Williams, whose DNA was on file because of felonies he committed as a juvenile, Rusnak said.
Rusnak said an informant told police that Williams’ brother was also involved in the killing.
“So we obtained DNA from him,” Rusnak said.
“DNA was able to link this whole case,” he added.