Police, witness testify in trial

October 13, 2011 at 12:01a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

The murder trial for a man accused of the 2010 shooting of a 31-year-old man on the city’s East Side began Wednesday with testimony from police and a witness who found the victim’s body.

David Figueroa, 27, of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, faces an aggravated- murder charge with a firearm specification in the April 21 shooting death of Emanuel Izquierdo on North Lane Avenue.

Izquierdo, 31, was found fatally shot in the back yards of 117 and 127 N. Lane Ave.

With no positive identification on him, Izquierdo was face-down on the ground with three bullet holes in the back of his head and bullet holes in the back of his neck, his back, forearm and buttocks. Police found 15 spent 9 mm shell casings nearby.

Witnesses reported hearing shots at 11:17 a.m., but no one reported seeing the shooting.

The case is before Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Figueroa is defended by Atty. Jeffrey Limbian. Assistant County Prosecutor Jennifer McLaughlin is prosecuting the case.

Figueroa wore headphones throughout the court testimony so the testimony could be translated for his clarification.

A witness took the stand Wednesday afternoon and told the five-man, seven- woman panel of jurors that he was delivering groceries to his son on Lane Avenue at the same time the shooting took place.

The man said he pulled onto North Lane Avenue and noticed a greenish car parked near an abandoned house.

The witness said he was knocking on the door of his son’s home when he heard about eight gunshots and saw the green car pull off.

The witness said he initially crouched down to avoid being seen, but walked to the area of the gunfire after seeing the car pull off.

He found the victim lying on the ground not far from area of the vacant house.

Under cross-examination, the witness said he could not identify the person driving the greenish car, but did say there appeared to be several people in the car.

Testimony in the case is expected to resume today.