Wednesday, September 17, 2014
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A man pleaded guilty in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Monday in the death of a woman in 2011.
Anthony White, 31, of East Lucius Avenue, entered pleas of guilty before Judge Maureen Sweeney to charges of involuntary manslaughter, five counts of felonious assault and specifications that a firearm was used to commit the crimes.
A sentencing date has not been set. Prosecutors are asking for more than 20 years. The pleas head off a trial that was slated for jury- selection to begin Monday.
Killed in the Oct. 10, 2011, shooting in the 500 block of East Lucius Avenue was 29-year-old Theresa Stillwagon. A man, Deariss Howell, 21 at the time, was wounded.
Stillwagon was shot in the chest twice and died at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Reports said witnesses told police Howell and White were arguing in a driveway when White ran inside his home, grabbed an AK-47 assault rifle and began firing at Howell, who tried to run away.
Howell was found face down in the driveway next to a car riddled by gunfire, and Stillwagon was found in a nearby home, where she was taken by neighbors after she was shot outside. Howell was shot in the foot and survived.
Police also had a video that was taken by a witness, reports said.
Assistant Prosecutor Rob Andrews said it is believed Stillwagon was not an intended target of the shooting.
White was arrested several days later by the FBI in Houston and returned to Youngstown where he has been in the county jail since his return.