Staff photo / Ed Runyan Brandon Crump Jr., right, is seen talking with his attorney, Lou DeFabio, in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Crump is charged with aggravated murder in the 2020 death of 4-year-old Rowan Sweeney.

YOUNGSTOWN — Jurors heard testimony from Andre McCoy Jr. on Friday during the trial of Brandon Crump Jr. for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 4-year-old Rowan Sweeney.

Friday was the second day of testimony before Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony D’Apolito.

McCoy, now 23, pleaded guilty in August to a reduced charge of murder. He initially was charged with aggravated murder, three counts of attempted murder and numerous other charges. The plea removed the possibility that McCoy could get the death penalty. His plea calls for him to get 15 years to life in prison.

Also as part of McCoy’s plea, he agreed to testify in the case against Crump.

Crump, 21, is charged with aggravated murder in the killing of Rowan and the shooting of four others in a Struthers home on Sept. 21, 2020.

While being cross-examined by Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Yacovone, McCoy read texts he sent to his girlfriend while in the victims’ house, detailing his desire to steal “a couple thousand (dollars)” from Yarnell Green, the boyfriend of Rowan’s mother, Alexis Schneider.

Green was shot to death outside of a Youngstown bar in September 2022.

After texts with his girlfriend, McCoy’s phone showed calls with Kimonie Bryant, 27, another of the three men charged.

McCoy said during the phone calls with Bryant, he detailed the plan — “Come in the front door show the gun, take the money,” McCoy said.

Later, McCoy detailed texts he received from Bryant. At 1:44 a.m., about 15 minutes before the robbery, Bryant texted McCoy “You sure he ain’t got one?” referring to whether Green had a gun.

McCoy said he knew Green did not have a gun, as he previously heard Green say his gun had been stolen. McCoy said he thought everything would go smoothly and he never texted anyone to shoot a gun.

McCoy claimed when the door opened, he didn’t see Bryant, but saw Crump, whom he said he had met only in passing. McCoy said he was shot in the head. He showed the jury a scar on his head. He identified Crump in the courtroom as the person who shot him.

McCoy said he couldn’t remember seeing the gunshot. He said the next thing he remembers was “waking up in the hospital.”

McCoy later said he did not recall waking up in the hospital for two months after getting shot. McCoy said he thought he got in a car accident when he woke up.

While being examined by Lou DeFabio, Crump’s attorney, McCoy admitted that in August, he had said he did not remember the exact contents of the text exchange with Bryant or the phone calls.

DeFabio asked if getting shot in the head impacted McCoy’s memory of the events. McCoy replied that it did.

McCoy agreed with DeFabio that it is fair to say his recollections of that night were “hazy.” McCoy testified that he does not recall hearing a car arrive at the house or the door of the home open.

McCoy also said he could not see if the shooter had tattoos or facial hair. He said he only saw the shooter “from the eyes up,” and for “one second,” before being shot.

During opening statements, Jennifer Paris, a county assistant prosecutor, said after learning that Green had received a check for about $5,000, Crump burst into the house and shot Green, Schneider, McCoy and Cassandra Marsicola, as well as Rowan, who were at the Struthers home. The four others survived the shooting, but the boy died.

Crump was arrested Nov. 4, 2020, at a house on Pearl Street in Youngstown.

Dan Boerner, a special agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation who handled the crime scene investigation in the case, testified at length Friday.

Boerner discussed more than 100 photos taken at the crime scene, including one with Rowan’s body covered by a white sheet and other evidence including bullets, a handgun, ammunition and suspected marijuana.

Boerner said paramedics and / or police officers at the Struthers home could have moved around evidence before he arrived. Boerner also testified that he processed evidence at a Cassius Avenue home in Youngstown, where Kimonie Bryant lived.

Bryant pleaded guilty Dec. 12 to aggravated murder in this case. He had other charges dismissed in exchange for his plea, including specifications that could have led to the death penalty. Bryant hasn’t been sentenced, but prosecutors and the defense are recommending he get 20 years to life in prison.

Chris Branckes, an emergency room doctor at St. Elizabeth Hospital, also testified Friday about the gunshot wounds to the four adults shot in the Struthers home. The trial will resume Monday.