YOUNGSTOWN — Investigators have determined that the Brothers of Power Classic Car Club on Logan Avenue was operating as a liquor establishment without a liquor license at the time three men were shot to death Feb. 9.

Youngstown Law Director Jeff Limbian said the Youngstown Law Department will be talking to the Ohio Department of Liquor Control about the possibility of filing criminal charges against the operator of the club.

Now investigators are still trying to determine who that operator was, Limbian said.

Shortly after the shootings, the city ordered the building to be demolished for violations of “general property maintenance.” No one is allowed to enter.

The shootings brought attention to the building, causing Youngstown fire Chief Barry Finley to say the building is not safe for firefighters to enter because of multiple holes in the walls and roof and buckling wood in the basement that holds up the structure.

The owner of the building has until about March 9 to decide whether he or she wants to rehabilitate the building, but Limbian said he doubts that will happen.

Limbian said he does not know how long the club operated as a liquor establishment without a license, but there is a lot of evidence that it was doing so, including liquor found on the premises and recorded images of people drinking there.

The listed owner of the club is Taylor Inc. No. 4 of Virginia Trail in Liberty Township, which bought the property in June 2013.

Police said they believe two of the men who died, Daniel Ortello, 31, and Charles Pullen, 37, shot each other. They believe Robert L. Shelton, 44, shot the third victim, Dymond D. Ortello, 34, only 30 to 40 feet from two Youngstown police officers who had arrived outside of the club just after the first 911 call at 3:45 a.m. Feb. 9.

A man and woman were injured by gunfire inside the club but are expected to survive.

Shelton waived a preliminary hearing Friday in Youngstown Municipal Court on charges of aggravated murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and his case is expected to be heard soon by a Mahoning County grand jury.

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