Suspect in store owner murder moved to jail

YOUNGSTOWN

The suspect in the robbery and murder of a store owner on the South Side has been moved from the hospital to the Mahoning County jail.

Larry McDonald, 19, was moved from St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital to the jail where he was booked on a charge of aggravated robbery and a probation violation.

He was charged in the robbery of the Reemas Fashion store at 1760 Belmont Ave. on Nov. 18 — the day before the owner of that store and another Reemas Fashion on South Avenue, Abdullah Nagi Mahdi, was killed in a robbery attempt at the South Avenue location.

Reports said McDonald pulled a gun in the South Avenue store, and Mahdi also pulled a gun and the two exchanged shots. Onlookers tackled McDonald, who was wounded, after Mahdi was shot in the head.

McDonald has not yet been charged in Mahdi’s death, but authorities have said he is expected to face charges.