METRO DIGEST || Free self-defense class for women this morning

Free self-defense class for women at 9 a.m.

LOWELLVILLE

The village police department will offer a free self-defense class for women from 9 a.m. to noon today on the second floor of city hall, 140 E. Liberty St.

The class is open to women from “ages 12 to 100,” said police Chief Ryan Bonacci.

Suspect to return here this weekend

youngstown

The Mahoning County Coroner’s Office said in a news release Friday that 26-year-old Lashea Parker died from multiple blunt force and sharp force injuries to her head.

Parker was found beaten to death in her 3440 Shelby Road home at about 2 p.m. Tuesday by a neighbor investigating after finding one of her children outside with no coat on.

Her death is under investigation as a homicide, the release said.

Her boyfriend, Larry Johnson, 39, was arrested in the killing at a Columbus Walmart early Wednesday evening. He was to have a hearing in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on Friday to determine when he would return to Mahoning County. A spokeswoman for the Franklin County Clerk of Courts office said the results of the hearing will not be available until Monday, but detectives investigating the case said they expect Johnson to be returned here sometime over the weekend.

Woman shot by stray New Year’s bullet

youngstown

A woman was treated for a gunshot wound to the arm after what reports say was an injury from a stray bullet about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday during New Year’s celebrations.

Police were called to St. Elizabeth Health Center at about 4:40 a.m. Wednesday, where Brittani Davenport, 21, of Youngstown, said she was outside a Logan Avenue bar when several people began firing shots in the air and she felt something hit her arm.

She didn’t realize she was hit by a bullet until she left; she was taken to the hospital, reports said.

Parking ban lifted

STRUTHERS

Ed Wildes, safety service director for the city of Struthers, has announced that the city’s parking ban has been lifted.