Opening statements to be Monday in homicide trial

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Jurors are expected to hear opening statements Monday in the trial of two teens bound over to stand trial as adults on murder charges in the 2011 slaying of another teen.

Deandre M. McCrary, 16, of West Woodland Avenue, and Rayshawn Royal, 17, of Cohasset Drive, are both charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery with firearm specifications in the June 19, 2011, shooting death of Brandon Adkins.

Prosecutors and attorneys representing the two teens have spent two days selecting jurors to hear the case, which is being tried before Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Both defendants are jailed under $500,000 bond.

Police found Adkins, 16, of East Philadelphia Avenue, a Chaney High School student, lying in the driveway of a South Avenue house, shot in the back and abdomen and surrounded by a large crowd.

Police said Adkins was shot by two people with two guns after a fight earlier that night at a party on Mistletoe Avenue.