Police pursue drive-by killer

Man discovered shot Sunday morning at popular travel facility

WEATHERSFIELD -- Austintown, Youngstown and Weathersfield police were called out Sunday morning after a 19-year-old man was shot inside a vehicle and later died after a drive-by shooting involving two vehicles traveling through Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

Austintown police Chief Bob Gavalier said the shooting is being investigated as a homicide and no one had been arrested as of Sunday night in connection with the man's death. He said the victim was found shot in a vehicle in the parking lot of Waffle House off Salt Springs Road in Weathersfield.

Police and emergency medical service personnel were at the parking lot of the Waffle House for several hours Sunday

morning.

Gavalier said two vehicles are believed involved with the shooting, which is believed to have started near the Waffle House on Salt Springs Road and then along North Meridian Road in Youngstown and at a plaza before the victim returned to the Waffle House parking lot.

Officials said it is not clear how the victim got there.

An ambulance took the man to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, Gavalier said. He added the victim died, but was not sure if it was at the scene or at the hospital.

Youngstown and McDonald police also assisted at the scene after reports of gunshots being heard.

Austintown police, with the help of Youngstown police, blocked off a section of Meridian Road at a plaza with officers looking for shell casings along the street in that location.

Gavalier said police are looking for a dark-colored SUV that was seen in the Waffle House parking lot by several witnesses. Another gray-colored car was in the parking lot with bullet holes on the driver's side.

Reports state many families were inside the Waffle House at the time for Mother's Day. No

one was injured inside the restaurant.