Shooting suspect arraigned in court

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The man accused in the shooting death of 25-year-old Ricardo P. Moctezuma appeared in municipal court Tuesday to be arraigned on charges of aggravated murder and three counts of felonious assault.

Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly set bond at $1.375 million for Jason M. Delgado, 25, of Pasadena Avenue. He will be back in court July 31 for a preliminary hearing.

Delgado’s attorney, Thomas E. Zena, told the judge that his client speaks no English and had a Spanish-speaking attorney, Miriam Ocasio, translate the proceeding.

Delgado contacted Zena on Monday evening and then turned himself in to police.

Moctezuma, of Burlington Street, was shot outside the El Tropical bar on Poland Avenue around 1:50 a.m. Saturday after a fight inside the business. Police found him in the parking lot, bleeding from the head.

Witnesses said Delgado ran out through the patio and jumped a fence, circling around the building to shoot at Moctezuma.

The others injured, two of whom are bar employees, survived. Two were wounded by gunfire, and one was cut with a beer bottle, an assistant city prosecutor said.

The shooting triggered a manhunt over the weekend, with detectives asking anyone with information about Delgado’s whereabouts to call Crimestoppers.

Acting on a tip after the shooting, members of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force Crisis Response Team went to a Pasadena Avenue address looking for Delgado.

A Spanish-speaking officer tried to encourage Delgado, thought to be inside, to come out.

The CRT members broke open the front door and entered the home but did not find Delgado.