Canton boy, 16, deemed competent to stand trial over fatal porch shooting
CANTON ‒ A 16-year-old is mentally competent to stand trial for the shooting death of Craig Blackshear last summer, according to the judge overseeing the teen's case.
Anthony Moore, of Canton, had entered a not guilty by reason of insanity plea earlier this year and was court-ordered to undergo an evaluation by Psycho-Diagnostic Clinic.
According to a finding by Judge Kristin Farmer issued June 26, the clinic's report, which was sealed, concludes that Moore is competent to stand trial and was not suffering from any severe mental disease when he was accused of shooting and killing Blackshear last July.
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Moore, who was 15 when charged, withdrew his insanity-related plea and entered a not guilty plea to charges of murder and felonious assault last week in Stark County Common Pleas Court.
According to police records, the 45-year-old Blackshear was shot around 10:20 p.m. July 7, 2022, on the porch of a home in the 1800 block of Fourth Street NW in Canton.
Moore was initially charged as a juvenile but his case was later transferred to adult court because of the seriousness of the charges.
A codefendant, Megan Coladonato, 37, of Pike Township, also was arrested and charged with complicity to murder.
Coladonato was accused of aiding the teen during Blackshear's shooting by stoking an argument between herself and the victim, leading to the teen to shoot Blackshear multiple times, according to police records.
In February, she plead guilty to two felony counts of obstructing justice and tampering with evidence and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Moore has a final pre-trial hearing set for July 21. A trial date has not been set.
Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Anthony Moore to stand trial in fatal shooting of Craig Blackshear
