WARREN — A city man charged with attempting to murder two police officers had his case bound over to a Trumbull County grand jury on Thursday, following a hearing in Warren Municipal Court.

Davonte McElroy, 20, of Austin Avenue NW, faces two counts of attempted murder in connection with an Oct. 13 incident involving Warren Police Detectives Peter Goranitis and Michael Sajnovsky.

Judge Natasha K. Natale, presiding over Thursday’s hearing, and following the precedent set by Judge Patty Knepp, who arraigned McElroy on Monday, ordered him held without bond.

City Prosecutor Cheryl Zebrasky recommended a $250,000 bond, citing the severity of the charges.

Defense attorney Aaron Meikle argued for a $100,000 bond, stating, “He wasn’t actively running. He was picked up in Columbus and released. He thought the charges had been dismissed.” Meikle added that McElroy was cooperative during his arrest and has family support in Warren, suggesting he is not a flight risk.

However, Judge Natale, after reviewing police reports, decided to hold McElroy without bond.

Natale deemed McElroy a flight risk, citing his failure to appear in court since December 2023.

Three traffic charges and one misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business against McElroy were dismissed, according to court records.

According to a Waren police report, on Oct. 13, 2023, Goranitis and Sajnovsky were patrolling Austin Avenue around 3:40 p.m. when they observed a man wearing a black ski mask, red hoodie, and black pants walking toward a home. The report stated the man pointed a handgun at the officers and fired multiple shots toward their vehicle as he ran toward them. The detectives fled to a safe area and alerted dispatch, prompting multiple police units to converge on the Austin Avenue home.

The report further detailed that officers established a perimeter and called for occupants to exit. Four individuals emerged, but none matched the suspect’s description.

Two, a 37-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl, were arrested on obstruction charges, according to the report.

Police entered the residence and found a red hooded sweatshirt and black ski mask on the kitchen floor, matching the suspect’s description, the report stated.

A second search, authorized by a warrant from former Judge Terry Ivanchak, allowed police to collect additional evidence.

McElroy was arrested May 16, 2025, in a parking lot near Homewood Avenue SE and Youngstown Warren Road SE in Warren.

The report stated that detectives from the Street Crimes Unit, aware of McElroy’s outstanding attempted murder warrants, spotted him in a red Jeep SUV.

Officers approached the vehicle, identified him among the passengers, and ordered him out. He complied and was taken into custody without incident, then transported to the Trumbull County jail.