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Two charged in funeral shooting at Tod Cemetery
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
The nephew of a woman being buried Wednesday at Tod Homestead Cemetery and his mother both face charges for their role in gunfire that broke out during the burial service.
Richard Harris, 25, of Cincinnati, is in the Mahoning County jail on charges of carrying a concealed weapon and assault, and his mother, Bonnie Weaver, 53, of Youngstown, was charged with assault.
Weaver has been charged but is not yet in custody, according to court records.
Harris was wounded in the arm during the shooting about 1:10 p.m. as services were ending after the burial of his aunt, Brenda Carol Weaver-Brown, 60, who died May 27.
Witnesses said several people were arguing before a man was punched, and as others converged to break it up, a gunshot rang out and Harris was wounded.
Paramedics at the scene treated Harris before he was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. After his treatment, he was taken to the jail.
Detective Sgt. Darryl Martin said Thursday that Harris started a fight with Weaver-Brown’s husband and was hitting him repeatedly. Bonnie Weaver, who is Weaver-Brown’s sister, also jumped in and was hitting the husband.
A gun Harris had fell on the ground, and the husband picked it up and shot Harris, Martin said.
Martin said the husband is not facing any charges because he was being beaten up by both Harris and Weaver and fired the gun in self-defense.