Man charged in New Year’s Eve ’17 shooting death

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Police this week charged a man in a shooting at a Dec. 31, 2017, New Year’s Eve party.

Emilio Estrada Benitez, no age given, of Youngstown, is charged with negligent homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor, in the shooting death of Jose Jaurejui, 33, of Byron Street.

Jaurejui died Jan. 1, 2018, less than an hour after he was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital after he was found at his home with two gunshot wounds.

Detective Sgt. Ron Barber said Jaurejui and several other people were having a New Year’s Eve party and drinking and firing guns when he was shot about 11:50 p.m. Dec. 31, 2017.

A coroner’s report from the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office said several people were firing guns in the backyard and that Jaurejui was firing his wife’s gun when he was shot.

The coroner’s report said Benitez told Jaurejui’s wife later on New Year’s Day that the shooting was an accident and he was sorry. Barber said there was no ill intent on the part of Benitez.

Police were waiting for ballistic and lab reports, then had to confer with a new city prosecutor, Barber said, because the shooting took place under a previous administration.

Court records show Benitez has a hearing March 20 in municipal court.