East Side shooting leaves man critical

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

City police are investigating an early Sunday shooting outside an Oak Street bar on the East Side that left a man in critical condition.

Police responded to the Mi Raza Bar and Cafe, 1422 Oak St., about 2:15 a.m. Sunday and found Victor Alfonso Rojas-Pena, 27, lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to his torso. Rojas-Pena also had gunshot wounds to his right foot and the upper thigh of his right leg.

A large crowd had gathered around Rojas-Pena, but officers said they were unable to gather much information from witnesses because of the language barrier. Rojas-Pena’s girlfriend told police that he’d gotten into an argument with an unidentified man driving a red or black Honda. She then heard about four or five shots and found Rojas-Pena lying in the parking lot by the sidewalk. Police noticed a large amount of spent shell casings on the ground in front of the bar.

Rojas-Pena was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center, where he remains. Police have no suspects at this time, and the incident is still under investigation.