Javel Bates, a 40-year-old male of African American ethnicity, tragically died on March 8, 2017, in Youngstown, Ohio. Bates was shot outside the home of his half-brother, Ronald Lewis. When Bates returned to Lewis' house later that day, his car was riddled with bullet holes, and he had been shot. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Bates succumbed to his injuries on March 22, 2017.
The investigation into Bates' death revealed that he managed to tell Lewis that Gregory James, along with
another unidentified individual, had shot him. However, no one has been charged in connection with Bates' murder, and the case remains unsolved. Detectives from the Youngstown Police Department, including Detective David Sweeney, were involved in the investigation. They found significant evidence in Bates' car, including numerous bullet holes and a large amount of blood.
In a related case, Ronald Lewis, who was also a witness to Bates' shooting, was later killed on March 24, 2017. Gregory James was charged with the murder of Lewis, and during his trial, prosecutors sought to use Lewis' dying declaration implicating James in Bates' death. However, the trial focused primarily on Lewis' murder, and James was convicted of multiple charges, including aggravated murder and attempted murder.
Despite the connections between the two cases, the murder of Javel Bates remains an unsolved mystery. The Youngstown Police Department continues to seek information and assistance from the public to solve this cold case.
: State v. James IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
: Reporter asks for help with unsolved Youngstown homicide project - WKBN.com
