The Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office objected to the release of a defendant who ruthlessly murdered one person and injured another. Damon McCall is currently serving 34-years to life in prison for the Aggravated Murder of Hayel Al-Hadid, the Felonious Assault of Aref Al-Mawadieh, and the Aggravated Robbery of Star Market in 1990.
In July of 1990, McCall and Hayel Al-Hadid had a confrontation less than two weeks before the deadly shooting. McCall came into the Star Market and started to instigate a fight with an employee; during the incident, Mr. Al-Hadid tried to intervene but was injured in the process. After police arrived on the scene, they advised McCall to stay away from the store.
Two weeks later, McCall went back to the Star Market and shot Hayel Al-Hadid in the head, killing him. The surviving victim, Mr. Al-Mawadieh, was in his car in the parking lot of Star Market when he heard gunshots. Mr. Al-Mawadieh got out of his car and saw McCall pointing a gun inside the store. McCall walked to the counter and stole money from the cash register, and when he realized Mr. Al-Mawadieh was behind him, McCall turned and shot him too. Mr. Al-Mawadieh identified McCall from a photo lineup as the man who shot him.
A jury found McCall guilty of Aggravated Murder, Felonious Assault, Aggravated Robbery, with Firearm Specifications, and he was sentenced to life in prison with a chance of parole after 20 years.
While McCall is eligible for parole, his actions in prison over the past 20 years suggest that he is not rehabilitated and continues to be a danger to the community. McCall has committed numerous violations of ODRC rules in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2020, including having contraband and makeshift weapons.
In 2013, McCall became physical with a corrections officer, refused a direct order, and was belligerent about accepting a new bunkmate. One of the most troubling and notable incidents happened in 2009 when McCall told prison staff that he would get his knife back and kill another inmate. McCall’s history and temperament within the prison have shown no reassurance that he will not harm anyone else if he is released. Instead, Defendant appears defiant and dangerous, much like he was in July 1990 when he shot Aref Al-Mawadieh in the arm and chest and Hayel Al-Hadid in the head.
For all these reasons, the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office objected to the release of Damon McCall because of the senseless and brutal murder of Hayel Al-Hadid and the shooting of Aref Al-Mawadieh. McCall murdered Mr. Al-Hadid without regard for human life and consistently shows troubling signs that he may still harm someone if released. Therefore this demonstrates that there does not exist “reasonable ground to believe that * * * paroling [Damon McCall] would further the interests of justice and be consistent with the welfare and security of society.” R.C. 2967.03.