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LISBON -- The jury trial of Tyrell Travers, charged with aggravated murder in the May 2021 shooting death of Dion McMillon, kicked off Tuesday with jury selection and a road trip.
The jury selection process took over four hours, with attorneys for both sides choosing eight men and four women to serve on the panel, along with two alternates. Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton is overseeing the trial.
After the lunch break ended at 2:30 p.m., Bickerton gave some brief instructions, then jurors boarded a bus in front of the courthouse for a trip to East Liverpool for a jury view requested by the prosecution to point out pertinent locations related to the case.
According to the jury view motion filed by county Assistant Prosecutor Tammie Riley Jones, which was granted, the locations included: the corner of Mulberry and Locust streets; Fox Avenue (Alley) as it travels between First Avenue and Virginia Avenue; a residence located at 501 Virginia Avenue northwest of Fox Avenue (Alley); the business location of Growmark on Virginia Avenue at the intersection of Elmwood Street; a vacant lot on the Northside of Elmwood Street; the business location of A-1 drive thru near the intersection of Mapletree and Boyce Avenue; Mapletree Street between Boyce Avenue and Virginia Avenue and particularly a basketball hoop located on the northwest side of the road and the vacant lot on the southwest side of the road; the residences located at 1074 Mapletree Street and 1089 Mapletree Street; and the business location of Mainland gas station at the intersection of Virginia and Penn Avenue.
Travers, 25, Clover Avenue, Wellsville, remains jailed under a $1 million bond, but is appearing in street clothes for the trial, accompanied by deputies. His defense attorney is Walter Madison.
The state is represented by county Assistant Prosecutor Steve Yacovone, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Weikart and Jones.
Travers was indicted in January 2022 for aggravated murder and murder, both unclassified felonies with a firearms specification, and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.
If convicted, he could face a prison term of 15 years to life for the murder charges, plus an additional three years for the firearms specification and three years for the tampering charge.
McMillon, 26, was found dead in his car from an apparent shooting May 19, 2021 while the car was parked near Virginia and Mapletree streets in East Liverpool.
The trial is expected to resume this morning with opening arguments, then testimony.