Apparent murder-suicide in Warren
WARREN – Two people are dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide that played out early Friday afternoon at two homes on Warren’s southwest side.
It was the 11-year-old daughter of Jessica Crowder who called Trumbull County 911 just after 11:30 a.m. from her bedroom to report her mother’s boyfriend was being abusive, and moments later, Crowder, 35, was shot and killed inside her home at 1336 Hamilton St. SW., according to the 911 call log and Warren police.
Later, Crowder’s boyfriend, Roleigh Culver, 27, shot himself at a nearby abandoned home, according to Crowder’s sister, Heather Cross.
Warren police said the shooter ran to a home at 414 Austin Ave SW. When police announced themselves inside the home, they heard a gunshot from the second floor and found a man with a wound to his head still holding the gun, according to a press release. He was taken to Trumbull Memorial Hospital, where he later died.
The situation escalated from an argument over groceries. Crowder was shot in the home’s kitchen, Cross said, and pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
“She was a very happy, good-hearted person. She would do anything for anybody. She loved to spend time with her kids,” said Cross of her sister, who regularly volunteered at the Warren Family Mission.
In a recording of the 911 call the young girl urged police to hurry because the man, Culver, was trying to leave the home. As she explained why he was at the home and gave her name, gun shots were fired.
“No that’s the boyfriend’s last name, Crowder, (gunshots) (screaming) He just shot her,” the girl said.
“Stay on the phone, do not hang up, I need to know what’s going on. Is he being physically abusive to her right now?” the 911 dispatcher said.
“He just shot her,” the girl said.
“With what?”
“With a gun,” the girl said.
The girl told the dispatcher her mother was not conscious and was on the ground bleeding from her head. She also said her brother, 15, was in the living room, but is autistic and doesn’t understand what was happening.
Police are continuing to investigate.

