The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Murder suspect said he was impaired on LSD, investigators tell muni court
Investigators say a Lorain man was impaired March 26 when he murdered 23-yearold Cyarah Vince.
During a preliminary hearing March 30 in Lo rain Municipal Court, Lo rain police Detective John Dougherty testified23-year-oldAustinK. Altomare told authorities he was impaired on LSD when he admitted to fatally shooting Vince.
Municipal Judge Thomas J. Elwell Jr. concluded the hearing and bound over the case to Lorain County Common Pleas Court.
Altomare’s $1 million bond was maintained.
At 11:44 p.m. on March 26, officersweredispatchedtothe 2100 block of East 29th Street for a possible fight with gunshots, according to police.
Altomarewasfirstencountered by officers in the driveway of the address with his hands up and an unloaded gun on the ground.
Dougherty said the firearm in question was a .40-caliber Glock handgun that matched several casings found in the areawithanemptymagazine.
In an interview at the Lorain
Police Department following the shooting, AltomaretoldpoliceheshotVince following a fight after he was provoked by another man at the residence.
Vince suffered a gunshot wound to the head, Dougherty added. She was transported to Mercy Health Lorain where she was later pronounced dead.
In the interview Altomare told detectives several times he took LSD and stated “he dosed me” in reference to the other male in the residence who allegedly brought the drugs, leading officers to believe he meant he may have taken too much.
In processing the scene, Lorain police found a baggie containing white powder and a second set of blue-tinged powderontopofamirrorthat they believe to be narcotics.
Investigatorswerenotclear why Altomare shot Vince, but hetoldofficershebelievedthe other male and Vince were “conspiring against him.”
The male in the residence left the scene when Vince was alive and was unaware of the shooting until hours later, Dougherty said.
Defense attorney Anthony Nici said evidence shows the other male was the shooter.