YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Youngstown police have confirmed the identity of a 15-year-old girl who died after a shooting on the city’s South Side late Saturday.
The shooting happened at Martha’s Boulevard Tavern at the corner of Southern Boulevard and Ravenwood Avenue around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
The coroner has identified the victim as 15-year-old Amya Monserrat.
Monserrat was hit and died at Mercy Health as a result of her wounds after a fight broke out at a birthday party, resulting in gunfire. According to police, there were multiple shooters between two groups — a conflict which has been going on for a couple of weeks.
When officials arrived on scene, they found around 30 people outside the restaurant. Police were able to sift through the crowd and find the victim. About a dozen Youngstown police cars and an ambulance surrounded the business. There was crime scene tape and at least seven evidence markers in the parking lot.
Southern Boulevard was blocked from Midlothian to Ravenwood due to the investigation.
Police are still investigating and conducting interviews, but no one has been arrested. Anyone with information about the shooting or events leading up to it is urged to go to Youngstown police.
Lt. Mohammad Awad wants to remind the public of the position anonymous tips put the department in.
“Anonymous tips are great and they can point us in the right direction, but they’re not good enough to get a conviction. They’re not good enough to get warrants signed. They’re not good enough to move forward with our case in the direction we want it to,” Awad said.
Awad says there were many people at the tavern who weren’t involved, but that someone needs to speak up about what they witnessed.
“I don’t recall a situation where a person not involved was retaliated against for coming forward and doing the right thing,” Awad said.
Youngstown Law Director Jeff Limbian says the department will go after anyone who is protecting the suspect.
“If you’re thinking about assisting the shooter in some way, understand that you’re putting yourself at great to going to prison for the rest of your life,” Limbian said.
Monserrat was a freshman at Valley Christian High School.
The school president announced the school would be closed Monday. School will also be dismissed early on Tuesday for the elementary and high schools.
Counseling and prayer will be provided on Tuesday, and counselors will be available for the rest of the school year.