A juvenile male was found Wednesday in the parking lot of an apartment complex off Mahoning Avenue in Warren with a gunshot wound and was later pronounced dead, police said. The following day, officers arrested two men, identified as Ashaud Duane Lee Johnson and Willis Leroy Smith IV, and booked them into the Trumbull County Jail, according to a department release. Detectives also secured and carried out a search warrant at an apartment inside the complex as part of the case. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact police.
What police say
Warren police say officers were dispatched to 1377 Mahoning Ave NW on Wednesday after multiple 911 calls reported shots fired in the area. When officers arrived, they found a juvenile male in the apartment complex parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound, and he was pronounced deceased, according to a press release posted by the Warren Police Department. Several people at the scene were detained and questioned, and investigators later arrested two men on Thursday. Police labeled the investigation as case 26-02896 and urged the public to share any tips with Detective Nicole Smith.
Arrests, booking and background
According to police, both Ashaud Duane Lee Johnson and Willis Leroy Smith IV were taken into custody and booked into the Trumbull County Jail. County corrections information notes that the Trumbull County Adult Justice Center is responsible for local bookings and detention, per the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office. Johnson has previously faced weapons-related charges in Warren, The Tribune Chronicle reported in April 2025, when he was among two men charged in connection with a separate shooting investigation. The latest police release did not include court dates or bond information in the current case.
Investigators seek tips
Detectives say they executed a search warrant at an apartment inside the same complex as the shooting scene and are continuing to track down leads. The department’s Facebook post lists the phone number for Detective Nicole Smith at (330) 841-2684 and asks callers to reference case 26-02896, according to the Warren Police Department. Police added that more charges could follow as detectives work with prosecutors. Officials did not release any additional information about what specifically prompted the warrant or what, if anything, was seized from the apartment.
Legal next steps
With the arrests made on suspicion of murder, prosecutors will decide on formal charges and any related filings. Under Ohio law, a murder conviction carries an indefinite prison term of 15 years to life, with even stiffer penalties for aggravated murder, according to the Ohio Revised Code. As with any criminal case, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
