Attorney says client is not a ‘murderer’

Trial continues for grandfather accused of shooting father holding infant

YOUNGSTOWN -- Unlike most aggravated murder trials, the trial of Louis Littlejohn is not about who killed Charles Pargo, 27, in a Belden Avenue home Sept. 18, 2017.

Three Youngstown police officers saw Littlejohn, then 62, enter the front door of the South Side home and shoot Pargo four times in the back as Pargo carried his 3-week-old son up the stairs.

Defense attorney Joseph F. Gorman of Akron admitted during opening statements in the trial in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court that Littlejohn was not "perfect that night" -- but added: "I don't believe Louis Littlejohn is a murderer."

He suggested that a lesser offense might be more appropriate for Littlejohn, 65, of Logan Gate Road in Liberty Township. "You can do wrong and still not commit a murder," Gorman said.

Littlejohn has been in the Mahoning County jail awaiting trial for 3 1/2 years.

Assistant Prosecutor Steve Maszczak, meanwhile, used his opening statement to start at the beginning.

Maszczak described an argument between Brittany Littlejohn, daughter of Louis Littlejohn, and Pargo at the home on Belden Avenue.

That argument led to Pargo calling 911, and Brittany Littlejohn leaving the home with her four other children and calling her mother, Lisha Littlejohn.

Lisha then told Louis Littlejohn, who called 911 and told a dispatcher that his daughter had a protection order against Pargo.

Lisha and Louis drove to the Belden address to get their grandson from Pargo. Two Youngstown police officers met them there.

"Prior to her leaving the house on Belden, Brittany told Chuckie that it was OK for him to stay in the house on Belden with his infant son," Maszczak told jurors.

One of the two officers at the scene, Jason Sletvold, spoke with Brittany Littlejohn on the phone, Maszczak said. Afterward Sletvold told the Littlejohns that Pargo could stay the night at the house with the baby, "and the families would have to work things out in the morning," Maszczak said.

"At this point, there was nothing more officers could do," Maszczak said. "Brittany and Chuckie were able to work things out amicably for that evening." Officers were starting to leave the home to go on another call.

Officer Robert DiMaiolo noticed from the corner of his eye that Louis Littlejohn had gotten up from where he was sitting on the porch and had started to walk fast toward the front door of the house. He went inside and started shooting at Pargo, DiMaiolo testified.

Officers didn't know Louis Littlejohn had a gun and didn't perceive him as being angry, DiMaiolo testified.

In Gorman's opening statements, he focused on the health issues Louis Littlejohn was having at the time -- high blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, poor eyesight and a history of strokes -- and the way he perceived the way the situation was playing out.

Gorman said his client, a former prison guard in Youngstown, thought he had done everything right to protect his grandson from Pargo by telling police about the protection order, which Gorman said prevented Pargo from being near Brittany Littlejohn.

"Louis thinks he did everything right. They're going to let this guy keep this baby -- that guy who comes to the door in front of her father and calls Brittany a whore," Gorman said. "Louis loses it."

The trial resumes this morning.

erunyan@vindy.com