YOUNGSTOWN — A newly released police report from the Feb. 13 shooting death of a 26-year-old Youngstown man confirms he is the same man who was indicted on several charges in the May 23, 2021, traffic crash death of Charles Boerio Jr.

Tyrone J. Chatman Jr. of Early Road was indicted on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, failure to stop after an accident and possession of firearms while not allowed in connection to Boerio’s death.

Just after Boerio, 27, died, police believed his death was connected to a double homicide on May 23, 2021, at the Torch Club bar on Salt Springs Road on the West Side. But police later discovered Boerio did not have any bullet wounds and that his death was caused by the crash.

Chatman was found wounded fatally early Feb. 13 in a car in a fenced parking lot across from the Logan Gas Mart on Logan Avenue on the North Side.

Youngstown police said the vehicle in which Chatman was found had crashed through the fence and into the parking lot. At the same time — about 4 a.m. — a call for gunfire at the Logan Gas Mart was reported, according to a Youngstown Police Department news release.

Youngstown police and ambulance personnel arrived to find the vehicle inside the fenced lot with a person behind the wheel. The vehicle appeared to have been hit by gunfire. First responders attempted life-saving measures, but Chatman was declared dead.

Police have not made any arrests in the case. Chatman’s death was the fourth homicide in the city this year.

Last week, a motion was filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court asking the charges against Chatman in Boerio’s death be dismissed because of Chatman’s death. The criminal case is now designated as “closed,” and the charges in the case were changed to “dismissed” on Friday.

A police report provided by Youngstown police Monday gave the birthdate for Tyrone Chatman Jr., confirming he was the same man who was indicted in Boerio’s death.

The estate of Boerio also has a pending wrongful death lawsuit against Chatman in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. The lawsuit also names Terra Fields of Holly Drive in Girard and several “John Doe” drivers.

BOERIO

In Boerio’s death, Youngstown police said Boerio was traveling west on Salt Springs Road in a Nissan Maxima when it was struck head-on by a Mercedes Benz coming the other direction at 2:12 a.m.

Boerio’s death was ruled an accident from multiple blunt force injuries. The crash location was near the Torch Club, 1283 Salt Springs Road, and happened about the same time as a gunfight outside the club that killed two men and injured three others.

Investigators at the scene of the car crash said it appeared Boerio had two bullet wounds to his upper body, but the coroner’s office later determined that they were not bullet wounds, according to court documents.

Police said Chatman left the scene and never had a driver’s license. Chatman was found not far away from the crash lying next to railroad tracks wearing no shoes, police said.

Chatman was pointed out by a witness who said the suspect ran from the crash scene. Police took a blood sample from Chatman at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, where Chatman was admitted for injuries.

It matched DNA taken from the airbag in the Mercedes they believe Chatman was driving. If Chatman had been convicted of the charges in the crash, he could have received about 15 years in prison.

The gunfire at the club killed Mikquan C. Stevens, 19, and Rayshaun L. Clay, 23. It does not appear that any charges have been filed in their deaths.

LAWSUIT

The lawsuit filed May 11 against Chatman and Fields by Boerio’s estate is pending before Judge John Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court and his magistrate, Dominic DeLaurentis.

It alleges Boerio was on his way home, traveling west on Salt Springs Road in Youngstown when Chatman and / or John Doe driver No. 1 “negligently and / or recklessly” went left of center and hit Boerio’s vehicle head on.

Also, it alleges Chatman and / or the unnamed driver “were fleeing a crime scene for which he may have been involved.”

The suit names Fields as a defendant as the owner of the Mercedes Benz. It alleges she negligently entrusted the vehicle to Chatman and / or the unnamed driver.

Attorney Lou DeFabio, who represents Chatman and Fields, responded to the lawsuit, denying many of the allegations or claiming lack of knowledge on the part of Fields. The lawsuit also names as defendant Boerio’s insurance company.

Have an interesting story? Contact Ed Runyan by email at erunyan@vindy.com.