Man indicted in Struthers homicide

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County grand jury indicted a 26-year-old Struthers man on murder and felonious-assault charges with firearm specifications in the April 3 shooting death of his roommate.

Matthew B. Alexander, of Renee Drive, was indicted Thursday in the death of Matthew Molnar, 34, who was shot with a .45-caliber handgun in the residence the men shared.

The county coroner said Molnar died of a single gunshot wound to the head and ruled the case a homicide.

The murder charge carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison, with three mandatory, consecutive additional years for the firearm specification. The felonious-assault sentencing range is two to eight years in prison.

The shooting followed a prolonged fight between Molnar and Alexander, police said.

The fight apparently began at a Coitsville gentlemen’s club and was broken up by a bouncer in the club’s parking lot, police said.

It progressed on the car ride home and continued in the home’s driveway and inside, police said.

Neighbors reported hearing more arguing and screaming, along with two shots from inside the house at about 2:45 a.m.

Struthers police were called an hour later by Southwest Mercer County Regional Police in Farrell, Pa., where Alexander turned himself in after the shooting.

Alexander waived extradition from Pennsylvania and was taken to Mahoning County jail.

His bond was set at $500,000 at his Struthers Municipal Court arraignment.