Opening statements to begin in murder trial

June 26, 2012 at 12:05a.m.

Everson

YOUNGSTOWN

Opening statements are expected today in the trial of a 25-year-old city man charged with a murder reportedly committed while he was out on bond for an aggravated robbery that also led to a murder.

Reginald Everson is on trial for the aggravated-murder charge with life specifications before Judge Lou A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Jury selection began Monday morning.

Prosecutors contend that Everson, while free on $15,000 bond in an Auto Zone robbery case in 2007, shot and killed 18-year-old Terrell Roland of East Avondale Avenue.

Roland was shot twice in his driveway in May 2008 and died a short time later at St. Elizabeth Health Center.

Attorneys for Everson and prosecutors spent the majority of the day Monday picking a jury to hear the case.

The jury also was taken to view the scene.

Everson already is in prison on charges stemming from the Auto Zone robbery.

He had been charged with murder and aggravated robbery in the shooting death of Edward Agee during a robbery attempt at the Auto Zone store on McCartney Road on the East Side in May 2007. Agee was a store employee.

The murder charge and a gun specification subsequently were dropped under a plea agreement.

Everson is serving a 10-year sentence for that crime.

Jamaad Jackson, 21, of Wych-wood Lane, was sentenced to eight years for his role in the crime.

Prosecutors called Jackson a key witness in the case, saying his testimony helped convict Melvin Dixon, 27, of Youngstown, the actual shooter in the murder.

Dixon is serving a life sentence.