Cleveland man shot to death on South Side

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A 47-year-old Cleveland man was fatally shot just before 4 a.m. today in the parking lot outside a private club at Southern and Midlothian boulevards.

A police report said the victim was hit by gunfire at 3:59 a.m. after the shooter was ejected from the motorcycle club, known as the Ridaz’ Block, which is in a row of storefronts on that corner.

Arriving after being alerted to the location by multiple activations of the city’s ShotSpotter gunfire detection system, police found a large crowd had assembled, with several of them surrounding the victim.

Police found the black, bald and bearded victim lying on his back, 20 feet from the club’s rear door, motionless and not breathing, apparently having been shot once in the head with an unknown type of gun.

The crowd began to throw things and became violent, so police said they called for extra officers.

An ambulance crew advised that the victim was deceased.

“Several attempts were made to acquire witnesses, but they were uncooperative,” according to the report, written by Officer Anthony Congemi.

The crime lab gathered evidence at the scene.

No suspects are in custody.

The club’s rear door to the parking lot says “Private. Members Only.” Its emblem says the club was established in 2005. Its slogans are: “In the block we trust,” and “Deeper than bikes.”

Police have not released the victim’s name pending notification of his family.

Detective Sgt. Darryl Martin is the lead investigator. Anyone with information is urged to call the detective bureau at (330) 742-8911 during business hours.

The man's death represents the 15th homicide of the year in Youngstown.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.