Police continue to probe Warren tavern homicide

WARREN — Two investigative agencies are assisting Warren Township police in the investigation of 2 a.m. homicide at the J&L Tavern on Highland Avenue just south of Warren.

James Dotson, 33, of Perkinswood Boulevard SE, was pronounced dead at ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital this morning after being shot inside the tavern and being found with multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot outside.

The gunfire took place in the back of the tavern, Warren Township Police Chief Don Bishop said. No one has been taken into custody, the chief said.

Dotson has an extensive prison record and was charged with murder in 2009 in the shooting death of a man in the parking lot of Big Apple Convenient Mart on Oct. 3, 2009. He pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and a gun charge and was sentenced to five years in prison.

Dotson was 16 and tried as an adult in 1999 for shooting a man in the eye in Comstock Park, now known as North End Park, on Comstock Avenue Northeast.

Dotson was convicted of two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of felonious assault and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released from prison July 22, 2009.