Charles Pullen Jr., a 17-year-old sophomore at South Hills High School in Youngstown Ohio, was fatally shot on the south side of the city in the 100 block of East Judson Avenue around 11 p.m. on April 1, 2026. Youngstown Police Department officers responded to a ShotSpotter gunfire alert near Potomac Avenue and East Judson Avenue and learned that a 17-year-old male had been taken to the hospital by private vehicle with at least one gunshot wound.
He was transported to St. Elizabeth Health Center where he later died from his injuries. The Mahoning County Coroner’s Office officially identified him as Charles Pullen Jr. on April 8, 2026. No other individuals were reported injured in the shooting that unfolded in this residential south side neighborhood of Youngstown.
The shooting occurred on a quiet residential street in the 100 block of East Judson Avenue where officers documented the scene and began processing evidence after receiving the ShotSpotter notification. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire in the area near Potomac Avenue and East Judson Avenue.
The victim was found suffering from gunshot wounds and was taken to the hospital by private vehicle before officers arrived at the exact location. The incident has been classified as a homicide with the Youngstown Police Department leading the investigation in coordination with the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office.
Charles Pullen Jr. was remembered by family and friends as a great kid who was well-liked by his peers at South Hills High School and had no enemies. His father described him as a respectful and hardworking student who loved basketball and was striving to make something of himself.
The sudden loss has left the South Hills High School community and the broader Youngstown area in profound grief with extra counseling services activated for students and staff. Family members have expressed heartbreak over the violence that claimed the life of a 17-year-old who was simply at home in the 100 block of East Judson Avenue.
The Youngstown Police Department continues its active investigation into the April 1, 2026 shooting in the 100 block of East Judson Avenue urging anyone with information or video from the south side area to contact homicide detectives. No arrests have been announced and detectives are reviewing witness statements and any available surveillance from the neighborhood near Potomac Avenue. The case remains open with focus on the events that led to the fatal gunfire in this residential section of Youngstown.
The south side Youngstown community has been left shaken by the violent death of Charles Pullen Jr. in the 100 block of East Judson Avenue with residents expressing sorrow over the loss of a local teenager. Family and friends have shared tributes highlighting his positive spirit while the city processes the tragedy that unfolded on April 1, 2026. Local support networks have offered condolences to the victim’s loved ones during this difficult time in Youngstown.
The Mahoning County Coroner’s Office and Youngstown Police Department continue their joint review of the shooting in the 100 block of East Judson Avenue with emphasis on providing clarity for the family and the community. As the investigation proceeds the focus remains on honoring the memory of Charles Pullen Jr. while seeking justice for the fatal incident on the south side of Youngstown Ohio.