In the evening hours of April 1, 2026, the life of 17-year-old Charles Pullen Jr. was tragically cut short on the South Side of Youngstown, Ohio. The incident, which unfolded around 9:55 p.m. on East Judson Avenue, is being investigated as the city's second homicide of the year.
Authorities were first alerted to the sound of gunfire by a ShotSpotter notification. Shortly after, they learned that a teenager, later identified as Charles, had been taken by a private vehicle to St.
Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital with at least one gunshot wound. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced deceased. The Mahoning County Coroner's Office officially confirmed his identity and that the cause of death was a shooting. An autopsy was subsequently performed by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office.
Charles, affectionately known as "Paupi," was a junior at Mahoning Valley High School. Born on December 11, 2008, he was known and loved by many from a young age and was said to have made a special impact on those he met. He had a passion for spending time with his grandmothers and family, particularly his older cousins and his best friend. An avid fan of the Seattle Seahawks, he also enjoyed playing video games, especially on his Xbox.
As of early April 2026, the Youngstown Police Department's investigation into the murder was ongoing, and no arrests had been announced, nor had any suspects been publicly identified. The case remains under the joint investigation of the Youngstown Police Department and the Mahoning County Coroner's Office. In the wake of his death, family and friends gathered to honor his memory with a balloon launch at Arlington Heights Park.
