Police seeking clues in shooting

The victim was shot from about 15 yards away, a detective said.

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — Police are canvassing the neighborhood around Parkman Road near West Market Street looking for information on the fatal shooting of Joshua Housel, 20, of Niles.

Warren Detective Wayne Mackey said police received a phone call from an out-of-state tractor-trailer driver who was southbound on Parkman Road at 11:50 p.m. Saturday when he witnessed a young man pull out a gun, shoot Housel and run.

The witness said the shooter was about 15 yards from Housel when he fired. The suspect was described to police as wearing a white T-shirt.

Mackey said an autopsy performed Monday morning indicated that Housel died from a single gunshot wound in the abdomen.

Housel was taken from the scene to Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital, where he died.

Housel, of Frederick Street, had apparently been riding a bicycle before the shooting, though it is not clear whether he was riding the bike or standing beside it at the time of the shooting, Mackey said.

Housel’s mother and the mother of his child live in the northwest Warren area, so it was not unusual for him to ride through that area, Mackey said.

When officers arrived, Housel was found on the sidewalk at 353 Parkman Road, near the intersection with Ward Street Northwest, with his bicycle next to him. The intersection is just north of West Market Street.

Housel was sentenced to 10 months in prison May 24, 2007, after pleading guilty in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to felony charges of receiving stolen property and aggravated possession of drugs.

This is the third homicide in the city this year, the last one being April 3 when Kendel Cherry of Elm Road in Warren was shot to death at Hampshire House Apartments on the southwest side.

Anyone with information should call Mackey at (330) 841-2684.