Larenz Rhodes, 20, is shown in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court last week during a hearing regarding whether his aggravated murder trial would take place Monday or be delayed. He is charged with killing Crystal Hernandez, 23, on Jan. 24, 2019, at her Youngstown apartment. (Staff photo / Ed Runyan)

YOUNGSTOWN — The aggravated murder trial of Larenz Rhodes, 20, set to begin Monday morning is complicated because it involves 10 young people, including the victim, Crystal Hernandez, 23.

She died in her East Side apartment Jan. 24, 2019, from a gunshot wound to the neck while protecting her 2-year-old son from 40 or more gunshots fired by young men in a car. The boy, who was not injured, was found sleeping on his mother’s chest.

Rhodes and six others were charged. Authorities have never said how many people fired a gun.

Prosecutors believe the target of the gunfire was Hernandez’s boyfriend, Gabriel Smith, now 20, who was entangled in two episodes of gunfire earlier that day– one as victim and one as retaliator.

Smith and others who have already pleaded guilty are expected to testify in the trial, which will be overseen by Judge Anthony Donofrio of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

But the trial will be complicated for another reason: It will be the first jury trial at the Mahoning County Courthouse since the coronavirus began. Members of the public wishing to see the trial are expected to have a video feed provided in a separate part of the courthouse.

Court officials have said they have implemented new protocols to protect everyone involved in the trial from the virus.

COVID-19

Frank Cassese, Rhodes’ attorney, asked last week to delay the trial, arguing that the pandemic that has gripped the nation since February has made it difficult for him to meet with his client at the Mahoning County jail.

But Donofrio questioned Cassese at a hearing on Wednesday about what type of difficulties Cassese has had.

Cassese said he met with Rhodes prior to the onset of the virus and can also do so now, though not as well as he would like because of the “issues with COVID-19.”

The judge said he has been in contact with the Sheriff Jerry Greene and believes attorneys are getting sufficient access to their clients at the jail.

“This whole COVID-19 issue has presented difficulties not only for attorneys and their clients but for the courts and everyone who comes into this building,” Donofrio said. “We’re trying to work through it the best we can.”

Donofrio said working with the sheriff, health department and county commissioners, Mahoning County Common Pleas Court has “implemented every policy and practice to prevent the risk of infection from COVID-19 for jurors, employees, attorneys, defendants and all others.”

He said the courts have “gotten the go-ahead from the (Ohio) Supreme Court to participate in jury trials.”

Judge John Durkin was scheduled for a jury trial recently but on the morning of the trial, the defendant allowed Durkin to decide the case without a jury, Donofrio said.

Still, all of the potential jurors for Durkin’s case “showed up to do their duty and their service,” Donofrio said. “There have been jury trials throughout the state of Ohio … with no issues,” Judge Donofrio said.

THE EVIDENCE

Also during the hearing, Cassese hinted that he will challenge evidence suggesting that Rhodes fired a weapon.

“To my knowledge, no slug was recovered from her body,” Cassese said. “I do believe there were bullet fragments. But the evidence is very clear. There were multiple shooters, there were multiple” bullet shell casings, Cassese said.

Hernandez and Smith lived on McBride Street on the East Side in the Victory Estates apartments. The shooters are alleged to have gone there looking for Smith and Lavante Perry, 24, for an earlier shooting on McGuffey Road that injured one of the defendants, Martize Daniels, now 20.

Prosecutors say Daniels, who reached a plea agreement in the case earlier, is the person who shot at Smith in the first of the three shooting incidents Jan. 24, 2019. Smith was not injured.

Like Smith, Perry later pleaded guilty in the shooting of Daniels. But Perry was found shot to death at his home in December, a couple months after his guilty plea. No arrests have been made in his death.

Police have not previously described the role Rhodes played in the shooting, but they have described him as one of a group of males who went to the apartment looking for retaliation against Smith and Perry.

THE HISTORY

As for the three incidents of Jan. 24, 2019 and those allegedly involved:

First, a group of males fired gunshots at Smith.

In retaliation, Smith and Perry shot Daniels on McGuffey.

Third, in retaliation for the McGuffey shooting, six defendants went to Victory Estates, killing Hernandez.

The initial shootings were related to illegal drugs and money, police have said.

Court documents indicate that at least four of the defendants had juvenile criminal records that prevented them from legally possessing a firearm.

Daniels was convicted in Mahoning County Juvenile Court of felony domestic violence in October 2018.

Rhodes was convicted in December 2015 in juvenile court of felony assault.

Maurice Redrick, who is awaiting a trial in the case, was convicted in juvenile court in December 2015 of felony assault.

Marquis Torres-Willis, 22, who is awaiting trial, was convicted in October 2014 in juvenile court of felony aggravated assault. Torres is also accused of stealing a vehicle Jan. 24, 2019, though it’s unclear what role the vehicle played in the shootings.

The last of the seven defendants awaiting trial is Johntez Scrivens, 21.

Others expected to testify after pleading guilty earlier are Burton McGee, 21, and Joquan Blair, 23.

In addition to charges of aggravated murder, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Rhodes is charged with felonious assault related to gunshots fired at Smith. Five other co-defendants are also charged with felonious assault in that crime.

An uncle of Hernandez’ told reporters shortly after the killing that Hernandez, a makeup artist, “shielded the baby, and she took all – everything for the baby.” He said she was “a great mother, great human being.”

erunyan@tribtoday.com