Police expect suspect to be back in Warren today

Staff report

WARREN

Detectives expect Orlonzo T. Murry, 26, of Bennett Avenue Northwest to be back in Warren today to face arraignment on a gun charge associated with the New Year’s Day shooting death of Cory Blackwell, 25, inside the Sunset Lounge.

Murry was arrested early Saturday by the U.S. Marshals Service in Columbus on a warrant out of Warren charging him with possession of a firearm on liquor premises.

He spent the weekend in the Franklin County jail awaiting a Monday hearing in Columbus regarding extradition to Trumbull County.

If convicted of the charge, Murry could be sentenced to three years in prison.

Lt. Jeff Cole, spokesman for the Warren Police Department, said the charge relates to the shooting, but Murry is only a “person of interest” in the case.

The warrant was filed Jan. 15 in Warren Municipal Court, where Murry is expected to be arraigned, possibly today.

Blackwell, of Randolph Street Northwest, was found unresponsive with gunshot wounds in front of the Sunset Lounge, 480 E. Market St., at 2:11 a.m.

Police said they learned that gunshots had been fired near the dance floor just before Blackwell’s body was found.

The bar has since closed, and its owner has temporarily surrendered its liquor license to the state.

Cole said he couldn’t discuss the specifics of Murry’s arrest or what information led them to charge Murry.

“Once we talk to him, we’ll go from there,” Cole said.

Murry has been arrested several times since 2006 on misdemeanor charges such as domestic violence, contempt and driving on a temporary permit, according to Trumbull County jail records.

He was charged with felony burglary in 2006, but a Trumbull County grand jury refused to indict him.