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YOUNGSTOWN -- Kayla Dawson, 26, and Issac Chatman, 29, were indicted Thursday on similar charges involving two people who were killed even though their cases are apparently unrelated.
Dawson was indicted on voluntary manslaughter and a firearm specification and felonious assault with a firearm specification in the April 28 shooting death of Kyree Hornbuckle, 25, at Oakwood Avenue and South Maryland Avenue on the West Side.
If Dawson is convicted, she could get about 20 years in prison.
Chatman was indicted on voluntary manslaughter with a firearm specification in the June 7 shooting death of his half-brother, Isaiah Donaldson, 31, at Chatman's home on Benita Avenue on the North Side.
Voluntary manslaughter is not filed very often in Mahoning County. The statute describes the offense as being when a person knowingly causes the death of another person while "under the influence of sudden passion or in a sudden fit of rage, either of which was brought on by serious provocation occasioned by the victim that is reasonably sufficient to incite the person into using deadly force."
If Chatman is convicted, he could get more than 10 years in prison.
HORNBUCKLE KILLING
Officials have said they believe Hornbuckle's death was part of a domestic dispute.
A Youngstown police report stated that officers were called to the intersection of North Maryland and Oakwood avenues at 7:16 p.m. April 28. Officers were told it was a possible accident with injuries "where a man fell off his bike with a young child on board," the report states.
But when officers arrived, they saw that the driver had serious injuries and was covered in blood. Hornbuckle was loaded into a private vehicle and was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound, the report stated.
A Youngstown detective testified at a hearing in Youngstown Municipal Court that surveillance video showed Dawson's car traveling next to Hornbuckle on his motorcycle and then brake lights coming on.
DONALDSON KILLING
At a hearing in Youngstown Municipal Court about a month or so later, Chatman's attorney, Nick Brevetta, argued for a $100,000 bond instead of the $700,000 bond that had been set previously because of the "very unique fact pattern" of the Donaldson killing, saying Chatman and Donaldson were half-brothers, and Donaldson "was suffering from mental health issues at the time of the offense." Brevetta also noted that Chatman had never been arrested before this incident.
Youngstown prosecutor Kathy Thompson said she had spoken with Donaldson's parents, and they were "on board with the modified bond." She said the parents were present in court and would be willing to speak to the judge about the bond reduction.
But first, Youngstown Municipal Court Judge Renee DiSalvo DiSalvo asked Chatman if he worked, and he said he worked at Niles Manufacturing Inc. He said he and the victim are half-brothers.
DiSalvo also asked Youngstown police detective Chad Zubal about "this very unique situation" involving the victim and defendant being closely related. Zubal said he did not have an objection personally to a bond reduction. But said he wanted DiSalvo to be aware that Chatman's mother lives in Flint, Michigan. He apparently said that to make sure DiSalvo knew Chatman had a close relative in another state.
Zubal added that the case is "very sad," and DiSalvo agreed.
"This is a very difficult decision I have to make. I have to make sure [Chatman's] attendance [at future hearings] is secured," DiSalvo said. She ordered that bond be reduced to $500,000 with electronically monitored house arrest if he makes bond, saying the $500,000 was the least amount she would allow. She said Chatman's attorneys could argue for a lower bond at the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court level if Chatman is indicted there.
A Youngstown police news release stated that officers were called to the 200 block of Benita Avenue at 6:19 p.m. June 7 for a shooting. When they arrived, they found the victim with gunshot wounds and also found Chatman, who turned himself in to police.
Chatman was later interviewed by detectives at the Youngstown Police Department and was booked into the Mahoning County jail.
Benita Avenue runs east-west between Fifth and Logan avenues, east of Crandall Park.