In 2024, there were seven official homicides in Chautauqua County. It’s possible that number could increase.

According to District Attorney Jason Schmidt, his office is investigating two additional deaths which have been deemed as “suspicious.” Both were in the city of Jamestown. He declined to provide any additional information, expressing concern that the investigations could be compromised if too much information is shared.

In 2024, there were seven lives lost in homicide incidents. They were as follows:

– Marlon Clay was shot and killed at Parkview Apartments in Jamestown.

– Trevon Tripp of Dunkirk shot and killed at 839 Prendergast Ave., Jamestown on March 18.

– Sixteen month old Isaac Benton of Jamestown died April 13 at UPMC Chautauqua after being thrown into a portable crib.

– Mya Smith, 12, died April 29 due to complications of untreated diabetes.

– Eight month old Aniya Turk of Jamestown died May 15 after being shaken and strangled April 22.

– Corey Johnson, 25, of Jamestown was shot Aug. 16 in a parking lot of an establishment on North Main Street. He was taken to Hamot Medical Hospital in Erie where he later died.

– Doug Howie, 68, of Jamestown was shot in the area of Newland and Forest avenues, Jamestown. He was taken to UPMC Chautauqua and later flown to Hamot Medical Center where he succumbed to his wounds.

Of those seven cases, no arrests have been made in the deaths of Johnson or Howie.

For Johnson’s death, Schmidt said there is a “person of interest that the police are looking for.”

In Howie’s death, a $2,500 reward is being offered for any information. According to Schmidt, “the police have very little cooperation from the victim’s family or the witnesses” but they do have a person of interest in mind.