Murder charges are filed in Common Pleas Court in Brown’s shooting | Local News

First-degree murder and related charges were dismissed in Common Pleas Court on Wednesday against a New Castle man charged in the September 2023 shooting death of JB “Ray” Brown in Farrell.

Kuezale Darnel Townsend, 23, was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm, discharging a firearm into an occupied building, reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence.

Two other people charged with murder pleaded guilty to lesser charges in August and were sentenced.

Marcedes Nikol McKelvey, 25, of Wallis Avenue, Farrell, pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension. She was sentenced to two years, minus one day, in the Mercer County Jail.

Da’Ryan C. Allen, 20, of 200 Union St., Farrell, pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension.

He was sentenced to two years, less one day in the Mercer County Jail, followed by five years of probation.

Allen, now released from the Mercer County Jail, testified at Townsend’s preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

He said on Sept. 8, 2023, he received a text message and call from McKelvey, who said something strange was going on at their apartment and asked him to come over.

Allen said when he got there, Brown was sitting on the railing outside the apartment with Townsend and another friend behind him.

Allen said he saw Townsend had an AR-style gun. Allen was on his way to McKelvey’s apartment and Brown was two to three feet away from him when Allen heard the gun fired about eight to 10 times.

Allen testified that Townsend kept saying, “I messed up.” Allen also said he saw Townsend shoot Brown and then everyone ran.

Former Farrell patrolman Wesley Womer and Farrell Sgt. Detective Joey Brant testified at Wednesday’s hearing.

Womer was first on scene and assisted the victim before being transported by ambulance to Sharon Regional Health System, where he died. Womer said Brown had at least four wounds to his chest, one to his arm and a large hole on the left side of his body.

Brant arrived at the scene shortly after 9 p.m. that evening and was informed by Womer. He asked Womer to take McKelvey to the train station. Womer and Brant interviewed her.

Brant said McKelvey changed her story several times and was not considered reliable.

Brant testified that McKelvey said three black men were involved in the shooting and described their clothing.

Brant said they eventually found the clothing in a dumpster near Market Street, where Allen said they threw it away.

District Judge Mary A. Odem ordered the prosecution to be sent to Common Pleas Court. Townsend’s next scheduled hearing is January 28.

According to a police criminal complaint, on September 8, 2023, at 9:13 p.m., Farrell police responded to the area of ​​the McKelvey home for a report of a man shot.

Brown was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9:48 p.m

Police said an AR-style rifle was used in the shooting and five or six shell casings were found at the scene. However, the rifle itself was not recovered.

Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty or a court decides against them.

Follow Melissa Klaric on Twitter @HeraldKlaric or email her at mklaric@sharonherald.com