James Powell, 58, was found shot and unresponsive on the evening of May 15, 2025, after police rushed to reports of gunfire near Montrose and Eutaw in East Liverpool, Ohio. First responders discovered that the male victim had been struck in the chest; despite swift response, he died from his injuries. Early accounts from investigators suggested the shooting stemmed from a romantic dispute described as a “love triangle,” setting the tone for the case that followed.
Within hours of the killing, officers identified a suspect and mounted a search that ended beneath a porch. According to authorities, Daniel Clayton Whitley, 33, of East Liverpool, was found hiding and was taken into custody. He was initially charged with murder and held on a $1 million cash or surety bond after a video arraignment in Columbiana County Municipal Court. Police later reported recovering the handgun believed to have been used to kill James Powell, easing fears that an unrecovered weapon might be found by children in the neighborhood.
As the investigation progressed, prosecutors presented the case to a grand jury, which returned an indictment expanding the charges against Daniel Whitley. By mid-July 2025, he faced counts of aggravated murder and murder, both with firearm specifications, along with tampering with evidence tied to the killing of James Powell. In a subsequent court appearance, Daniel Whitley entered a not-guilty plea to the charges, setting the stage for continued pretrial proceedings.
Community reports and local obituaries identified the victim by name and age, underscoring the loss felt across the river towns that straddle the Ohio–West Virginia line. News outlets and a regional gun-violence database confirmed the date and location of the shooting death of James Powell, 58, in East Liverpool, while noting the swift arrest of the alleged shooter. At last report, the case remained active in county court with Daniel Whitley jailed pending trial on the felony counts related to the death of James Powell.
