Suspect in Youngstown’s 15th homicide surrenders

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown police now have a suspect in custody in the city’s most recent homicide.

According to Police Chief Rod Foley, Walter Drake, 26, of Hilton Avenue turned himself in to authorities today. An arrest warrant had been issued for Drake last week in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old Dion Weatherspoon earlier this month.

Drake should be arraigned in Youngstown Municipal Court Friday. He is charged with murder.

Police have witnesses who said they saw Drake shoot Weatherspoon, Drake’s neighbor, outside the suspect’s house, said police.

The murder occurred at Drake’s house at 246 Hilton Ave. on the city’s South Side about 11:30 a.m. June 13. Weatherspoon was found dead in Drake’s driveway with six bullet holes in him.

The matter leading to the shooting started as an argument, possibly about a theft, police said.

Weatherspoon was the city’s 15th homicide of the year.

For more on this story see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.