Man, 21, indicted on murder charge

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A Mahoning County grand jury handed up an indictment Thursday against a 21-year-old Youngstown man in what police describe as a robbery that escalated to a murder.

Reginald Whitfield III, 21, of East Lucius Avenue, was indicted on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence. The charges stem from the shooting death of Michael Abighanem.

Abighanem, 27, of Thalia Street, was shot after he and a friend went to a house on Silliman Street on the West Side around 4:30 p.m. April 27 so Abighanem could sell a video-game system and a laptop computer.

The friend told police Abighanem went in the front door with a black male while he parked the car. The friend eventually went inside also, where he noticed a second black male.

Abighanem and one of the males went upstairs, then the friend heard a “pop,” heard Abighanem call his name, then heard a second “pop,” and the friend fled the house.

The case against Whitfield was presented directly to the grand jury. He is the second person arrested and charged with the homicide.

Police also arrested a 17-year-old male who is at Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center for his reported role in the shooting.