Murder trial to begin this week

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Jury selection is set to begin in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday for a man accused in a 2013 murder.

Judge John Durkin will hear the case against Larry Blue, 35, of Republic Avenue.

Blue is charged with murder in the death of 53-year-old David Stokes of Lisbon on Feb. 2, 2013, in the Rockview Village housing complex.

Another man, Matthew Sharp, also of Columbiana County, was wounded in the same shooting.

Blue was arrested shortly after the killing. Detectives said the murder happened after a drug deal between Stokes and Blue.

Police say a co-defendant, Kadijah Payden-Briggs, set up a deal for Blue to sell drugs to Stokes and Sharp, but something went wrong, and Stokes and Sharp were shot during the deal.

Payden-Briggs pleaded guilty in May 2013 for her role in the crime and received a four-year prison sentence.

Blue has been in the county jail since his arrest. Police examined surveillance video at the housing complex to aid their investigation.

Blue was questioned and arrested by detectives shortly after Stokes was killed and Sharp was wounded.