Fatal Shooting at Youngstown State Fraternity

Daniel McCarthy

In the early morning hours on Sunday, February 6, Jamail E. Johnson was fatally shot at the Omega Psi Phi fraternity house near the campus of Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio.  Mr. Johnson was a 25-year-old senior, member of the fraternity, and had worked part-time to put himself through school.

In addition to Mr. Johnson, 11 other people were shot and wounded.  At least 6 of the 11 were students at Youngstown State.  According to published reports, the shooting occurred after an argument during an impromptu party at the fraternity house.  Two men were asked to leave the party after an altercation.  Shortly thereafter, the men returned and fired semi-automatic handguns through the opened front door of the house.

According to witnesses, the two men walked up to the house, opened fire, then fled.  Mr. Johnson was apparently trying to play the role of a peacekeeper when he was shot.  Shortly after the shooting, two Youngstown residents, Columbus E. Jones and Braylon L Rogers, were arrested and each charged with 1 count of aggravated murder and 11 counts of felonious assault.