WARREN - City police are investigating possible connections between the stabbings of two men and the shooting of another on the city's southeast side early Tuesday. One of the stabbing victims is the brother of one of six teens killed in March 10 traffic accident.
Police were called early Tuesday to the emergency room at St. Joseph Heath Center for two stabbing victims. Kyle Behner, 19, 4272 Donley Road, Mesopotamia, and Nathaniel B. Ferrell, 20, Milton Street S.E.,Warren, each told officers they were stabbed just before 3 a.m. somewhere near the Trumbull Homes apartment complex.
Behner is the brother of Kirklan Behner, 15, who died with five other teens in the March 10 crash on Niles Warren River Road, an extension of Pine Avenue S.E. Behner, who spoke at his brother's funeral on Friday, and Ferrell each suffered a severe laceration, police reported. Police said they were both treated and released.
The men told police that they had gotten into an argument with a man they did not know. They said the man pulled a commando-style knife and cut both of them.
Warren Police Lt. Jeff Cole said investigators believe the stabbings are related to a shooting about an hour later. However, he declined to elaborate or provide additional information.
Around 4 a.m., Michael B. Settle, 24, of McDonald, was shot in the chest while walking on Francis Avenue S.E. near Clarence Street S.E.
He was taken to Trumbull Memorial Hospital. Police declined to say how seriously he was wounded. The hospital did not issue a condition report, and an update on his condition was not available.
As of Tuesday night, no arrests had been made in either incident.
According to court records, Settle was sentenced to three years in prison in 2010 after he pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and receiving stolen property.
Meanwhile, Gregory L Dunlin reported early Tuesday morning that two front plate glass windows were shattered by gunshots at Auto Trendz at 2261 Youngstown Road S.E.
Police said they believe the windows were shot in the crossfire when Settle was wounded. Nothing was reported missing from the business.
Attempts by a Tribune Chronicle reporter to reach Dunlin by telephone on Tuesday were not successful.
Cole said they believe Tuesday's assaults were not connected to the Monday night shooting death of Rodney F. Fletcher on the city's southwest side. Police found Fletcher's body at his house at 423 Second St. S.W. just before 11 p.m. after receiving a call from an unnamed female. The Trumbull County Coroner's Office ruled Fletcher died from a gunshot wound to the neck. Police said they do not believe his wound was self-inflicted.
Police have had a series of assaults to investigate on the east side over the past several months. Among them:
Police also investigated calls of: