Lavante Perry, 24, was found shot to death in a home on Woodcrest Avenue in Youngstown, Ohio on December 11, 2019. The Mahoning County Coroner’s Office identified him and an autopsy was performed by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office; the Youngstown Police Department is handling the investigation and was gathering evidence and leads as the case remained open.

Perry had been involved in a series of violent incidents earlier in 2019. In January he pleaded guilty to felonious assault tied to the fatal shooting of Crystal Hernandez, 24, who was reportedly killed while shielding her 2-year-old son. Perry and Gabriel Smith were accused of firing at men charged in Hernandez’s killing; several others faced aggravated murder, murder, and conspiracy charges in that case. Perry’s own sentencing was pending in October 2019 and was continued shortly before his death.

Perry is remembered by family and the community as a youth coach who liked video games, fishing, football, and shooting at the gun range. He is survived by his children Elijah and Dai-Jon Perry and his brothers Charles and Isaiah Perry. If anyone has information about the killing on Woodcrest Avenue, Youngstown police ask that they come forward.