Gag order expected in Rowan Sweeney murder case

Rowan Sweeney

The attorney prosecuting the man suspected of fatally shooting a 4-year-old boy in Struthers says she will ask the judge hearing the case to sign a gag order to prevent publicity that may jeopardize a fair trial in Mahoning County.

Assistant County Prosecutor Dawn Cantalamessa told 21 News she was in the process of drafting a proposed order that would apply to those involved in the case. Cantalamessa said that Judge Anthony D’Appolito has already agreed to sign the order.

The case involves 24-year-old Kimonie Bryant, who faces four counts of aggravated murder, four counts of attempted murder, four counts of felonious assault, one count of aggravated burglary, and one count of aggravated robbery.

Bryant is accused of killing 4-year-old Rowan Sweeney during a shooting on September 21 at a home on Perry Street in Struthers.

Cantalamessa likened interest in the case to that of Robert Seman, who jumped to his death inside the Mahoning County Courthouse before his trial was set to get underway for the murders of 10-year-old Corrine Gump and her grandparents whose bodies were found in their burning Youngstown home in 2015.

Seman’s trial was moved to Portage County because of the vast amount of attention the case garnered in the media.

According to Cantalamessa, she decided to seek the gag order after learning that 21 News would be airing an interview with Rowan Sweeney’s mother who witnessed the shooting of her son.

Until now, most of the information about the shooting has come from Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains who previously recounted the events of that night.

On the day an indictment was handed up in the case, Gains told reporters that Bryant entered the home and immediately shot Andre McCoy Junior. The suspect then shot Yarnell Green Jr. as Green got up and tried to run. The suspect shot Green several more times as he was on the floor, Gains said.

Bryant then allegedly shot Cassandra Marsicola three times as she was sitting in a kitchen chair.

Alexis Schneider and her son, Rowan, were on the couch. Rowan was asleep on the couch with his legs on his mom's lap. Gains said Bryant then shot Rowan twice in the head as well as the mother.

Gains said the investigation revealed it was well known that Green, who was self-employed as a barber, had recently received a check for several thousand dollars in federal pandemic unemployment assistance funds. Around $5,000 from the check remained on the coffee table. Gains said Bryant fled the scene, and when police arrived, no cash was on the coffee table.

If convicted, Bryant could face the death penalty.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 9.

Kimonie Bryant

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