Victim autopsies, scene of fatal 2025 Lorain gun battle presented to jury

ELYRIA — The victims of an April 2025 gun battle between rivals outside a barbershop and salon on Tower Boulevard died quickly in a hail of bullets, pathologists and Lorain police detectives testified Wednesday in Lorain County Common Pleas Court. A gunshot wound to the forehead killed Jayzeir Gaddy, 17, of Avon after he shot and wounded Larry Moore Jr., 21, of Lorain in an alleged ambush on April 11, 2025. The two men allegedly didn't like each other, but no evidence of their rivalry has yet been presented. The Lorain County Prosecutor's Office alleges that Jayzeir Gaddy's brother, Willie Gaddy Jr., fired the shot that killed Moore. Willie Gaddy Jr., 22, is charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and firearms specifications in Moore's death. He also is charged with causing his brother's death, even though he wasn't the one who pulled the trigger. Willie Gaddy Jr. has pleaded not guilty and is expected to argue self-defense or defense of others. Someone who arrived at the scene with Moore just before the ambush fired the fatal .45-caliber round that killed Jayzeir Gaddy, who also was shot once in the right leg. That person has not been identified nor charged, and that gun has not been recovered. Jayzier Gaddy was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland where he was pronounced dead, his head wound being "incapacitating and fatal," Deputy Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Daniel Sullivan testified. Lorain County Coroner Dr. Frank Miller also testified that Moore was shot nine times in the body, left arm and both legs. Not all were fatal. Moore probably was lying on the ground when the fatal shot went in his lower back, up into his chest and pierced a lung, Miller testified. He bled internally and died within minutes, the elected coroner and veteran board-certified forensic pathologist testified. Moore lost 1 liter of blood, or 1/6 of the body's blood supply. "It's a lot of blood loss," Miller testified. The jury of nine women and five men was shown graphic photos of the bodies of both victims during autopsy, as well as photos taken the day of the shooting at a bloody, hectic crime scene. Miller couldn't determine was what shots hit Moore in what order, he told defense attorney Joseph Morse under cross examination. One gunshot to Moore's abdomen "probably" happened later because it didn't bleed a lot, Miller testified. Lorain police Detective Matt Hartman, who took dozens of evidence photos, testified that he was asked to help secure the chaotic scene at 1139 Tower Blvd. and to preserve evidence. Hartman photographed both victims; the Gaddys' gray Hyundai, Moore's silver Hyundai and a silver Subaru sedan driven by Moore's family members; shell casings from three guns; and other evidence left at the scene. Several bullets Jayzeir Gaddy allegedly fired at Moore left holes in Moore's Hyundai, Hartman testified. Morse's questions for Hartman on cross-examination seemed to suggest a defense theory that the chaos of the scene and a lack of security there contributed to lost or potentially contaminated evidence. Other Lorain police detectives are expected to take the stand today when testimony resumes. Judge Donna Freeman is presiding over the trial. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.