Investigator: Witnessed misled detectives in murder case

By Joe Gorman

jgorman@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

When he was called to investigate the Jan. 7, 2012, shooting death of Tre’von Kimbrough, Detective Sgt. Pat Kelly thought he had run into a string of good luck.

Kelly soon learned that the entire killing was captured on high-quality, color video and three of Kimbrough’s friends gave him leads. He thought their statements, along with the video, would lead to the arrest of the person responsible.

There was just one problem: Kelly said the three witnesses deliberately lied to him, spinning the case in circles and pointing him in the wrong direction.

“They really sent me on a wild goose chase,” Kelly said.

The case is still unsolved.

Kimbrough, 18, of Rush Boulevard. was found shot to death about 10:45 a.m. behind a vacant business in the 3700 block of Market Street across from a Bureau of Motor Vehicles office, where several people heard the gunfire.

Kimbrough’s homicide is the first of several unsolved homicides that will be spotlighted this year by Crimestoppers Youngstown and help from the Youngstown Police Department. Crimestoppers has posted a link on the killing to its Facebook page, asking for the public’s help for tips in solving the case.

Kelly said when he first got the case and learned of the video and witnesses, he thought it was too good to be true. Even though the video did not show the killer’s face, it was still of such excellent quality that it could be used to prosecute whomever was responsible. “It’s almost like you see on TV,” Kelly said. “That’s going through my mind; ‘I got this on film.’”

Kelly said he thinks the witnesses misled him because they did not want police to become involved. Instead, they wanted to take care of who was responsible themselves. Kelly said there were several other shootings tied to the Kimbrough case, including at least one homicide.

No action has been taken against the three witnesses who misled the detective.

Kelly said from his investigation it looked as if Kimbrough was waiting for a bus when he was killed. He said whoever killed him saw him by himself and decided to take advantage of the opportunity.

Victoria Allen, board member of Crimestoppers, said she hopes the Facebook page can help police because it gets so many views. She said since the post featuring Kimbrough’s case was posted July 12, it has been viewed by more than 7,000 people.

“Social media is it,” Allen said.

Kelly, who now heads up the Community Police Unit, said he is retiring next year and he would like nothing better than to find out who killed Kimbrough.

“I’d love to close this case,” Kelly said.

Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers at 330-746-CLUE. All tips are confidential, and a cash reward may be available if a tip leads to a conviction. People can also call police at 330-742-8911.