MANSFIELD — A Richland County murder trial will resume Tuesday morning when Prosecutor Bambi Couch Page brings forensic witnesses to Judge James DeWeese’s bench.
Austin Jones, 21, is charged with murder, attempted murder, felonious assault and having a weapon under disability for an incident on Nov. 3 at 112 Cleveland Ave. that left Cedric Daniels, 25, dead.
“We’ll have Dawn Fryback testify and she’ll have some items found on the crime scene to present to the jury,” Page said.
Fryback is Mansfield Police Department’s DNA Analyst. Page denied to comment on what evidence will be presented; however, she added that investigators from BCI will present findings from gunshot residue and bullet shell comparisons.
“We know there were at least four (gun) shots,” Page said.
She was unsure on the make and model of the firearm but the shells recovered were from .45 caliber casings.
Two of those bullets hit Daniels in his chest and led to his death 20 minutes later at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. Page said one bullet ended up hitting Brianna Daniels, Cedric’s sister, in the arm and exited through her back, close to her spine.
During opening statements, Page said the incident boiled down to a perceived lack of respect.
“They were just arguing over the fact that he bought a drink for another girl at the bar,” Page said. “And it escalated into other issues from there.”
Jones and Brianna Daniels were a couple. Authorities say they went out to the American Legion on Harmon Avenue for some drinks. The argument started in the car and it followed them inside the house and upstairs to the bedroom, when the argument became physical.
Page said five individuals were in the Cleveland Avenue house when shots were fired. Four of those witnesses testified last week.
“Each of them saw the defendant with the weapon. Each indicated he (Jones) was the one firing the shots,” Page said of the witnesses who testified.
According to Page, Jones was intoxicated during the incident from alcohol and cocaine.
Defense attorney Ralph Bove was not available for comment Monday.
