On the evening of Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 16-year-old Da’Mar McKinney of Youngstown was found with a gunshot wound, lying in the snow outside an apartment complex on the 1300 block of Mahoning Avenue NW in Warren, Ohio. He was discovered just after 11 p.m. and rushed to a nearby hospital, where he tragically died from his injuries the following day.
The investigation into the death of the male teenager led to the arrest of two 18-year-old suspects, Ashaud Johnson and Willis
Smith. Both were subsequently charged with murder in connection with McKinney's death. In their initial court appearance via video arraignment in Warren Municipal Court, both Johnson and Smith pleaded not guilty. A judge ordered them to be held without bond.
Following their initial charges, a Trumbull County grand jury indicted both Johnson and Smith. Johnson was indicted on a charge of aggravated murder with a firearm specification and two counts of tampering with evidence. Smith was indicted on a charge of aggravated murder with a firearm specification and one count of tampering with evidence. Both individuals are being held in the Trumbull County jail as they await their court proceedings.
In memory of Da’Mar McKinney, the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, a Texas-based organization, announced that a tree will be planted in his honor in the Mohican-Memorial State Forest in Ashland County. This living memorial is part of the foundation's "Trees for Peace" initiative, which seeks to create lasting tributes to young victims of gun violence.
