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Attempted murder charge announced in Liberty shooting

By Mahoning Matters staff
Scales of justice and a gavel in a courtroom
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LIBERTY

A man accused of shooting another motorist in the face then firing on police officers Friday near Belmont Avenue and East Liberty Street has been charged with attempted murder.

Liberty Police Department has charged Kevin Mallard, 55, of Manhattan Avenue, Youngstown, with attempted murder, felonious assault with a firearm specification, carrying a concealed weapon, improper handling of a firearm in a vehicle and inducing panic.

Authorities said Mallard shot 20-year-old Zachary Woods of Warren in the face at about 3 p.m. Friday at the corner of Belmont Avenue and East Liberty Street in an apparent road rage incident.

Responding officers stopped Mallard’s SUV near the Interstate 80 off-ramp, not far from the scene of the shooting. He then allegedly got out of the SUV and fired on officers, striking one patrol vehicle, according to the release. Officers then returned fire and struck Mallard.

Police identified the four officers in a news release Monday:

  • David Rankin, a K-9 officer with 13 years’ experience who was the officer-in-charge the day of the shooting;
  • Sean Ryan, a Liberty officer and Mahoning Valley Drug Task Force detective with three years’ experience;
  • Ashley Kitchen, an officer with 18 months’ experience;
  • Tim Riley, a 26-year officer who has been with the Liberty department for the past six months.

Three officers were placed on paid leave pending an internal investigation, the department previously reported, which is standard practice.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the police shootout and may issue additional charges.

Woods remains hospitalized in “serious condition,” police said Sunday.

Mallard also remains hospitalized but in stable condition. Online jail records suggest Mallard has not yet been booked.

Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting. Anyone with information is being urged to call the police department at 330-539-9847.

This story was originally published June 13, 2022 at 5:00 AM.