Warren police still waiting for test results in homicides

Staff report

WARREN

Warren police are still waiting for test results from a state crime lab in the Aug. 3 shooting deaths of three people in a car on Southern Boulevard Northwest.

Devonte West, 24, of Hamilton Street Southwest; Brandy M. Joseph, 37, of various Warren addresses; and Ju’wantae A. Harbin, 18, of Douglas Street Northwest, died after they were found in a Cadillac that crashed into a house on Southern Boulevard near Solar Street Northwest.

Witnesses said they heard shooting before and after the crash.

If the evidence confirms detectives’ theory of what happened, the case will be closed when they receive the last evidence, Sgt. Joe Kistler of the Warren Police Department said.

Autopsies have indicated that West, who was the driver, died of multiple gunshot wounds. His death was ruled a homicide.

Joseph’s death was ruled a suicide. Autopsy results for Harbin are still not available, the Mahoning County Coroner’s office said Friday.

Harbin’s body was taken to Cleveland for an autopsy after he was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

Police believe Harbin also was a homicide victim and that no one else besides the three was involved.

Meanwhile, police are still following leads in the Aug. 19 and 20 shooting deaths of two young adults in separate incidents. But Kistler said he had no other information to provide.

Heaven L. Townsend, 21, of Hillman Way, Youngs-town, was the woman found dead in the grass late Aug. 19 in the Fairview Gardens apartments on Duke Street Southwest.

William L. Williams, 19, of Freeman Street Northwest, was found dead at 5:25 a.m. Aug. 20 against a fence in the 2400 block of Northwest Boulevard Northwest.

The Trumbul County Coroner’s office ruled both deaths homicides.