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YOUNGSTOWN -- All charges were dismissed Wednesday against Daron J. Randolph, 25, who was arrested June 19 on charges of aggravated murder and felonious assault in the June 15 shooting death of Kiondre D. Davis, 27.
Davis was killed and another man was seriously wounded at 4:43 p.m. June 15 at a house in the 200 block of East Florida Avenue. The man who survived identified Randolph as the shooter.
But when police interviewed Randolph after his arrest, he provided an alibi and enough information for police to verify it, police Chief Robin Lees said.
"The arrest was based on eyewitness identification combined with some other supporting information we thought was very valid at the time," Lees said.
"So recognizing that we could corroborate that alibi, we asked for the charges to be dismissed and he be released immediately. At this point, we'll be going forward with the investigation," he said.
"We put a lot of weight on the eyewitness identification because the surviving victim … was able to identify him in a photo lineup."
Randolph was arraigned Monday in Youngstown Municipal Court, but assistant Youngstown Law Director Kathleen Thompson asked Judge Renee DiSalvo Wednesday to dismiss the charges, and DiSalvo did.
The judge ordered Randolph released from the Mahoning County jail, though jail records indicate he is still there.
Youngstown police said Davis was found face down with gunshot wounds on the front porch of a home. He died at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital at 7:26 p.m.
The other man was found in the kitchen with gunshot wounds "throughout his body," police said.
According to a police report, a witness said a possible suspect was seen running through the yards tucking a gun in his waistband. The man had short dreadlocks and was wearing a white T-shirt, black shorts and a blue bandana, the report states.
erunyan@tribtoday.com