Shots fired during robbery

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Police said the owner of a Mahoning Avenue gas station Monday fended off a robbery attempt with his gun.

Officers were called about 2:15 p.m. to the station in the 1500 block of Mahoning on the West Side on a report of gunfire.

When they arrived, they found the window in the front of the station shattered by gunfire. Witnesses said the owner fired shots at a man who tried to rob the station. The back window of the vehicle the suspect was driving also was shattered by gunfire.

As police arrived at the station, another call came in from the 2600 block of Tyrell Avenue, where reports said a man there had been grazed in the head by a bullet somewhere.

Police Lt. Doug Bobovnyik said he believed the two were linked, but police still were investigating late Monday afternoon. Detectives also were trying to figure out if there was an exchange of gunfire.