Arraignment for 2 charged in Youngstown homicide

YOUNGSTOWN — Two people charged with the city’s first homicide of 2013 have been arraigned before a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court magistrate.

Larry Blue, 32, of Parmalee Avenue, was arraigned on charges of aggravated murder and felonious assault. Khadijah Payden-Briggs, 19, of Maplewood Court, was arraigned on a single charge of aggravated robbery. Blue and Briggs pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Blue is accused of killing 52-year-old David Stokes at an East Side housing development during an alleged drug deal gone bad. Perkins-Briggs allegedly assisted in the drug deal, police said.

The case has been assigned to Judge John M. Durkin. Bonds for both defendants will be addressed by Judge Durkin.