McDonald pleads guilty to Mahdi murder; sentenced to 33 years

YOUNGSTOWN — The man accused of killing a South Side store owner on Nov. 19 entered guilty pleas today.

Larry McDonald, 20, of Truman Avenue, pleaded guilty before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to charges of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery for the death of Abdullah Mahdi Nagi, 29, inside the Reemas Fashion store he owned.

McDonald was to go on trial Monday.

He was sentenced 33 years to life in prison immediately after he made his pleas.

Police said Mahdi was armed and confronted McDonald because he looked like a person who robbed a Belmont Avenue store Mahdi owned the day before.

Both men fired at each other. Mahdi was killed and McDonald wounded.

Several friends of Mahdi's were in court when the pleas were given.