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Tribune Chronicle
NEWTON FALLS -- The death of a 49-year-old man who was shot in the head early Saturday at a Newton Village apartment was ruled accidental by Trumbull County Coroner Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk.
However, police Chief Gene Fixler said despite the coroner's ruling after Tuesday's autopsy of Howard Smith, the case is still open.
"I still plan to speak to the prosecutor," Fixler told the Tribune Chronicle Tuesday. "Although I respect the professionalism of the coroner's report, there is still some loose ends to the case that need to be tied up."
Fixler did not release the report of the incident, in which a female resident of the apartment complex called 911 at 12:37 a.m. Saturday. When officers arrived, Smith was found dead in the bedroom of the second-floor apartment at 615 Ridge Road.
A coroner spokeswoman said Smith died of one gunshot wound to the head, and the shot was "not self-inflicted."
No arrests had been made, according to Fixler.
A news release from Fixler Saturday said that after the investigation is completed, "facts will be presented to the prosecutor."
A crew from ServiceMaster Restoration by All-Action in North Lima was cleaning up the crime scene Saturday. A member of the crew said the work was mostly contained to a bed.
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