On January 6, 2024, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Boardman Township police responded to reports of gunfire near the intersection of Market Street and Indianola Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered 30-year-old Michael David Kosarich II unresponsive in his vehicle, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation revealed that the incident stemmed from a road rage confrontation between Kosarich and 24-year-old Jerome L. Tubbs of Youngstown. According to defense attorney Aaron Meikle, Tubbs was allegedly punched by Kosarich during the altercation. Subsequently, Tubbs followed Kosarich to a parking lot, where he believed Kosarich was reaching for a gun, prompting Tubbs to open fire. However, Assistant Prosecutor Kyle Hilles noted that there was no evidence indicating that Kosarich was armed at the time.
Following a thorough investigation, Tubbs was arrested on February 16, 2024, by the U.S. Marshals Service Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force. He was initially charged with murder but later pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a firearm specification. On November 6, 2024, Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Maureen Sweeney sentenced Tubbs to eight to ten and a half years in prison, as per the joint recommendation of the prosecution and defense. This sentence included a three-year term for the firearm specification.
During the sentencing, Angela Newman, Kosarich's sister, expressed profound grief and emphasized that her brother did not deserve to die. She lamented the senselessness of the act and the irrevocable loss her family suffered. In his statement, Tubbs apologized, stating that he acted out of fear for his own life during the incident.
Kosarich, a graduate of Struthers High School, was remembered for his passion for mechanics, love for the outdoors, and his infectious laughter that endeared him to many. His untimely death left a significant void in the lives of his family and friends.
