The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

January 2, 2013

2 Ohio men charged in New Year’s gunplay

By Courtney L. Saylor Herald Staff Writer

SHARON — Two Ohio men face charges after allegedly shooting at a security guard who confronted them for firing a gun early Tuesday at a downtown Sharon apartment complex.

Kiev E. Brown, 25, of Youngstown, and George M. Gutierres, 22, of Campbell, were each arrested shortly after midnight Monday after running into an apartment in the 300 block of Sterling Avenue, police said.

Sharon police said a guard at Willow Village apartments heard shots being fired in a commons area and found Brown and Gutierres firing a handgun.

The armed guard yelled at them to drop the gun, but one of them pointed it at the guard and fired five or six rounds at him. He wasn’t hit by bullets or injured and did not return fire, police said.

The guard called 911 and chased Brown and Gutierres into an apartment.

Police arrived and sealed off the area around the apartment, evacuating a neighboring unit where two adults and a 5-year-old child were home.

Then police entered and took Brown and Gutierres into custody without incident. Police found a 9mm semiautomatic pistol hidden in the tank of the toilet in the apartment.

The pair were visiting someone at the apartments and police said it’s likely they were firing the gun into the air to celebrate the new year.

Some folks set off fireworks at midnight and police said they had another report of gunfire in the area of Idaho Street and Baldwin Avenue but found no evidence of shots fired.

Brown and Gutierres were each arraigned Tuesday morning by District Judge Lorinda Hinch, Mercer, on charges of aggravated assault, attempted aggravated assault, prohibited possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence.

Police said each man has a felony on his criminal record that bars them from having a gun. Brown’s is for a prior conviction for carrying a concealed weapon and police were not sure what Gutierres’ previous crime was.

The gun used in the incident had not been reported stolen nor was it registered. Police said they’ll continue to investigate where the weapon came from.

As of Tuesday evening, no property in the area had been reported damaged.

Both men were taken to Mercer County Jail after failing to post bond and face preliminary hearings on the charges next week before District Judge Dennis M. Songer, Sharon.

Text Only
Local News