YOUNGSTOWN — Alexis M. Schneider, 23, of Struthers, mother of Rowan Sweeney, was indicted Thursday on a charge of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, as was Yarnell C. Green Jr., 30, of Youngstown.

Rowan is the boy, 4, who was shot to death Sept. 21, 2020, in the Perry Street home in Struthers where his mother and Green were living. Schneider and Green also were shot, but survived.

Three men are facing charges that could include the death penalty in Rowan’s death, the shooting of Schneider, Green and two other people; plus armed robbery and other offenses.

Schneider and Green were charged with the weapons offense March 21 after police found a gun under the front seat of the car near the center console after an 11:13 p.m. traffic stop on Dewey Avenue on the South Side. Schneider was in the front passenger seat, and Green was driving.

A Youngstown police officer said he spotted Schneider’s car on Cameron Avenue with one operational headlight. The car then turned onto Homestead Avenue and then Pasadena Avenue, then failed to signal as it turned onto East Dewey Avenue, the officer stated in a police report.

The officer turned on his lights and siren, and the car stopped quickly and turned into a driveway on East Dewey. The driver and passenger were both seen reaching toward the center console and moving their arms as if they were shoving something between the seat and center console on the passenger side, the officer stated.

Green appeared to be nervous, and his hands were shaking, as were Schneider’s, the officer stated. Green said his driver’s license was suspended, which officers confirmed, resulting in Green being charged with misdemeanor driving under suspension.

The gun had a bullet in the chamber and additional bullets in the magazine. The firearm was reported stolen out of Boardman in January, according to the police report.

No arraignment date has been set. If convicted, each could get up to 18 months in prison.

erunyan@vindy.com