On August 17, 2014, 17-year-old Shawn K Cortez was shot and killed on Winona Drive in Youngstown, Ohio after an argument between two groups escalated into violence. Witnesses said roughly 25 to 35 people were at the scene when shots were fired and Shawn collapsed in a nearby yard.

The Youngstown Police Department arrested 13 people in connection with the shooting: nine adults and four juveniles, ages ranging from 15 to 46. Charges reported included murder, involuntary manslaughter, inciting a riot, and felonious assault. A Mahoning County Grand Jury secretly indicted nine individuals. Investigators recovered cell phone video showing people in the crowd allegedly inciting the violence; two women were singled out for allegedly helping escalate the confrontation and were charged with aggravated riot and involuntary manslaughter.

Police said the fight grew out of a prior incident the day before at one participant’s home and involved multiple generations and family members supporting one another. Some charged individuals had previously been victims of violence. Some defendants later entered plea deals and faced reduced counts in exchange for pleas. Does anyone have additional details about Shawn or the people involved that could shed light on what led to that night?