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Manhunt under way in Mingo shooting

STEUBENVILLE – A manhunt is under way for one of three people indicted by the Jefferson County grand jury on Wednesday in connection with a May 16 burglary and shooting in Mingo Junction in which a 2-year-old girl was pistol whipped.

Law enforcement officers throughout the area are looking for Stedmund Creech, 23, of Steubenville. He and Drake A. Burton, 20, of Steubenville were indicted on Wednesday each on four counts of aggravated burglary, four counts of felonious assault, one with a firearm specification, and tampering with evidence. Creech also was charged with one count of having a weapon as a convicted felon.

Precious Turner, 30, of 1328 Wellesley Ave. was indicted on one count of tampering with evidence.

Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said three men, dressed like utility workers with vests, knocked on a door at a house at 122 Union Ave., Mingo Junction, around 2:30 p.m. on May 16. A 2-year-old girl answered the door and the men came inside and demanded money they claim was owed to them, Abdalla said.

The men forced Mike Gray, 27, to open a safe, Abdalla said.

The three men then used duct tape to tie up a woman, Yolanda Cronin, 23, of the residence, the 2-year-old and a 13-year-old. Gray also was secured with the tape, Abdalla said.

The two children and Cronin then were pistol whipped about the head, Abdalla said. Gray was shot in the thigh area, the sheriff said.

The three left the house, got into a vehicle allegedly driven by a 17-year-old and drove to Steubenville, where the men got out in the area of Dock and North Fourth streets. City Police stopped the vehicle in the 100 block of South Fourth Street and took the juvenile into custody.

The 17-year-old has been charged in juvenile court with complicity to aggravated burglary and complicity to felonious assault, each with a firearm specification,

County Prosecutor Jane Hanlin said Turner is the girlfriend of Drake and disposed of evidence in the case.

Hanlin said Creech is considered armed and dangerous. She urged anyone with information concerning his whereabouts to contact police.

A third male involved was not indicted because authorities are still trying to make positive identification.

Last summer, Creech was indicted by the county grand jury in three consecutive months.

Creech was one of two men targeted by Antonio Johnson, 23, of Steubenville on July 2 in the 1500 block of Orchard Street. Johnson fired shots from an AK-47 at the men.

Creech was indicted on three counts of having a weapon as a convicted felon and single counts of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and carrying a concealed weapon. He also faces two drug trafficking charges in a prior case and another charge of escape for failing to report to his state parole officer.

Johnson was sentenced to 24 and one-half years in prison after a jury convicted him of attempted murder and other charges.

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