Friends rally support for Youngstown crime victim

Not all stories get the chance to get told as they need to or revisited as they could.

This is one.

Ellen Zban was the Youngstown resident tragically shot three times on Feb. 6 – one bullet under the eye and one each in the shoulder and arm.

It was a botched ambush robbery attempt in her driveway in an area of Youngstown that is as near idyllic as a struggling city would like – vacant lots that are well-maintained give space to well-maintained modest homes fronted by manicured bushes. Interstate 680 hums just behind the treeline.

And at 7 p.m. on a quiet Monday eve, Ellen sat in her car, took three bullets and lived to call police.

She is as innocent a victim of violence as an urban setting can produce. She’s a 57-year-old, animal-adopting vegan completely foreign to the city’s seedy life.

It’s a worst-case “wrong place, wrong time” tragedy.

Today at the Soap Gallery, 117 S. Champion St., downtown, starting at 11 a.m., her friends are hosting a vegan brunch and yoga gathering to celebrate Ellen and raise funds for her recovery.

On Friday, three friends visited Vindy Talk Radio – Terri Ciccone, Maria Lallo-Wagner and Calvin Wagner – to promote today’s event with VTR host Louie Free.

“Ellen’s the strongest person you ever want to meet,” Terri said. “She’s the first person to help out when there is a need. She’s such a positive person. I can’t imagine being in as high of spirits as she is now with what happened.”

The friends believe it is that element of Ellen that has her alive instead of a fatality.

“Every doctor has said, ‘She should not be alive,’” Terri said.

To hear the 911 call, you would agree.

It’s a curdling call from Ellen; almost indecipherable. She’s heard leaning on her car horn. When her neighbor arrives and takes over the 911 call, his tone resounds in disbelief as he discovers each bullet wound.

Per her friends, bone fragments were removed around her eye, she’ll need facial and shoulder surgery; her speech is limited as of now, and she likely will require jaw surgery.

Police reported it looks like the work of a rookie burglar who panicked.

Ellen said she was asked to turn over her wallet, and as she turned to get it next to her in her car, the assailant fired point blank and left her to die. The Friday police reports to the friends indicate there is some investigation in progress.

“She’s not the type of person who would ask for any of this help,” Terri said.

But they’re doing it.

Maria said Ellen is incurring immense medical costs now with the surgeries. The rehab will incur further costs. All of this happens without her able to earn an income while she recovers.

They said the vegan community is a loyal bunch, but they’re also hoping others attend this morning’s brunch. Bringing a vegan dish is encouraged.

A “Go Fund Me” page has also been created.

This incident is part of what spurred a city peace walk event tonight – starting from four points in the city and converging downtown under the Market Street bridge for a bonfire that is being called a “Fire of Change.”

Groups will gather at 4 p.m. And depart their respective locations by 4:30 p.m.

Events under the bridge are expected to begin at 5:15 p.m., with Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st, and Mayor John A. McNally speaking.

Todd Franko is editor of The Vindicator. He likes emails about stories and our newspaper. Email him at tfranko@vindy.com. He blogs, too, on vindy.com. Tweet him, too, at @tfranko.