Man indicted on murder charge in death of homeless man

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County grand jury has indicted a man in the May 28 death of James Syster, 55, who was knocked unconscious during a fight, fell face down in a puddle and drowned.

Jayjuane Hardy, 40, was indicted today on murder and felonious assault charges; and Robert Reed, 52, who allegedly made a false statement to police to impede the prosecution of Hardy, was indicted on an obstructing justice charge.

Hardy and Reed are homeless, as was Syster.

Police said Hardy and Syster had an argument, followed by the fight, in which Syster was knocked unconscious.

A homeless person found Syster face down in the puddle behind a Front Street parking lot in the city’s downtown shortly after 10 p.m. and asked a woman walking her dog to flag down police.

Syster was the city’s fourth homicide victim of this year.