$1M bond for alleged driver in teen killing
Saun Peterson allegedly driving car when shots fired
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YOUNGSTOWN -- Bond is set at $1 million for Saun M. Peterson, 20, of Cameron Avenue, who is charged with complicity to murder in the April 15 shooting death of Amy Monserrat, 15, outside of the Martha's Boulevard Bar and Grill on Southern Boulevard.
Peterson was arraigned by video Wednesday in Youngstown Municipal Court.
Youngstown police went to Columbus on Tuesday and brought Peterson back from the Franklin County jail, placing him in the Mahoning County lockup.
Peterson was arrested May 3 in Columbus without incident on a warrant issued April 25 in Youngstown.
During Peterson's video arraignment before visiting Judge David Fuhry, an assistant Youngstown law director, Elliousa Baier, asked him to set bond at $1 million. She cited the seriousness of the charge.
Baier said the case "has to do with the murder of a 15-year-old girl that Mr. Peterson was involved with."
The judge read from the criminal complaint in the case, saying: "The complaint says he was the person driving the car when the shots were fired."
Defense attorney Walter Ritchie said he believed Peterson should get "a more reasonable bond. That's more of a ransom than a bond."
Fuhry agreed $1 million is high, but agreed that it is a "serious offense" and agreed with the $1 million bond.
Also charged in the girl's death is Danyo Sellers, 16, on one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder. He was arraigned May 2 in Mahoning County Juvenile Court.
Youngstown police arrested Sellers on April 22 on warrants after receiving information and evidence at the crime scene and from "supporters from the community," according to the police department.
Sellers' next hearing is 10 a.m. Aug. 6 in juvenile court, followed by a 9 a.m. Sept. 6 hearing, also in juvenile court. There, Judge Theresa Dellick is expected to hear evidence to determine whether there is probable cause that Sellers committed the offenses charged.
Amya, a student at Valley Christian School on Southern Boulevard, was attending a party when she was shot, police said. She was a sophomore and head cheerleader at the school.
Police said Amya was not the intended target. She was "hit by a stray bullet," according to Capt. Jason Simon of the Youngstown Police Department detective division.
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