Leroy Keith, 1959 July 23

committed his first murder-in Warren. His last words were: "Sooner
or later, we all come to justice. I was disappointed in G overnor
Rockefeller."' This evidently referred to hhe failure of the Gover-~
nor to commute his sentence once again,

The Warren Tribune Chronicle, “Warren, Ohio, July 2, 1959.6

Photograph of Keith in this issue of paper.

Affirmed: (Memo) 159 NE -2nd- 21h; (Memo) 160 NE -2nd= 126; (Memo)
158 NE -2nd= 253; 156 NE -2nd- 915 :

| Shot & killed Taxi driver David Suro on 12-19-1956; Had been convicted
| of murder in 193h, while trying to steal a car in Ohio. Sentenced to

| death bnt commuted; Murdered Suro while trying to steal his cab. He
had been released from Ohio ppison only 6 months previous. Was wanted
in Akron on three homicide charges and when captured was shot five time
by police. Keith, accomplice James T. Morris and unidentified woman
hailed cab, got into taxi and ordered Suro to hand over money. Suro

}
swereved and deliberately rammed police car. Trio fled from cab and

Keith turned and shot Suro in abdomen & chest. Keith & Morris also
fired at_police & as Police caught them nearby after wounding

eo
Keedh. ((MEEKWY 7 24-SI 12-2OCISE CP 22)

| death bnt commnted; Murdered Suro while trying to steal his cab. He

Med. //MESMY 7-2:

committed his first murder in Warren. His last words were: "Sooner
or later, we all come to justice. I was disappointed in G overnor
Rockefeller." This evidently referred to hhe failure of the Gover~
nor to commte his sentence once again,

The Warren Tribune Chronicle, Warren, Ohio, July 2h, 1959.6

Photograph of Keith in this issue of paper.

Affirmed: (Memo) 159 NE -2nd- 21h; (Memo) 160 NE -2nd= 126; (Memo)
158 NE -2nd- 253; 156 NE -2nd- 915
Shot & killed Taxi driver David Suro on 12-19-1956; Had been convicted
of murder in 193k, while trying to steal a car in Ohio. Sentenced to

had been released from Ohio ppison only 6 months previous. Was wanted
in Akron on three homicide charges and when captured was shot five time
by police. Keith, accomplice James T. Morris and unidentified women
hailed cab, got into taxi and ordered Suro to hand over money. Suro

swereved and deliberately rammed police car, Trio fled from cab and

ele eee and shot Suro sass Madina & chest. Keith & Morris also
ired at police & missed. Police caught them nearby after wounding
SSP "42-20 CISC (P22)

committed his first mrder in Warren, His last words peat ee
or later, we all come to justice. I was disappointed in G
Rockefeller." This evidently referred to he faiture of the Gover=
nor to commite his sentence once again,

The Warren Tribune Chronicle, Warren, Ohio, July 2h, 1959.

Photograph of Keith in this issue of paper.
Affirmed: (Memo) 159 NE -2nd- 21h (Memo) 160 NE -2nd= 126; (Memo)
ob

158 NE -2nd= 253; 156 NE -2nd-
Shot & killed Taxi driver David Suro on 12-1 9-1956; Had been convicted
of murder in 193), while trying to steal a car in Ohio. Sentenced to
death bnt commuted Murdered Suro while trying to steel his cab. He
hed been released from Ohio ppison only 6 months previous. Was wanted
in Akron on three homicide charges and when captured was shot Sive tind
by police. Keith, accomplice James T, Morris and unidentified women
hailed cab, got into taxi and ordered Suro to hand over money. Suro
swereved and deliberately ranmed eed car, Trio fled from cab and
Keith turned and shot Suro eee chest, Keith & Morris els.
red st police & missed. Fo ice push jopn ngarby etter wounding
TOMES MY 22S MSGF 12-20 79

‘he Maren Teen Chron Warrny Choy Jy ay 29596

teers ot pare
eset ful 127 RE tnd 7 fee) EO ME Pls 186 (xe)
5} 168 HE ios

| J,ly 23, 1959
Bae KEITH 5 Leroy CaN gh i “Bat AE PRISE NEUE ECL RG ae cB gut saan!
| e7 | :
Keith, a }¥-year-old Negro, was living in Warren, Ohio, on July 2h,
193, when he needed an automobile to use in comection with a robbe
He opened the door in the car in which steelworker Fred Greist was
riding and when Griest refused to turn his car over to him, he shot
and killed the motorist. Keith was sentenced to die in the electric
chair at two different trials but finally received a commutation of
his sentence. He was released from the Ohio “tate Prison on parole
in July, 1956. On the night before Thanksgiving, 1956, he shot and
killed Coburn Von Gunten in Akron when Von Gunten resisted his attempt
to commandeer his automobile for use in another robbery, Keith es~
caped to New York City where, BRXEKSXKXEKE in December, 1956, he
attempted to rob a Bronx taxidriver, David Suro,who drove his cab
into the side of a parked police cruiser, As Keith fled from the
taxi, he shot Suro in the head, killing him instantly. Keith was
seriously wounded in an exchange of gunfire with the police, but he

survived his wounds and was triefi, found Lilt sentenc to die
for Suro's murder. He went to eee death Sate ame eA ghee eds

cha ir on July 23, 1959, one day less than 25 years after he had

| HRB epee ho en
27

Keith, a }&¥-year-old Negro, was living in Warren, Ohio, on July 2h,
193), when he needed an automobile to use in connection with a robberye
He opened the door in the car in which steelworker Fred Greist was
riding and when Griest refused to turn his car over to him, he shot
and killed the motorist. Keith was sentenced to die in the electric
chaig at two different trials but finally received a commutation of
his sentence. He was released from the Ohio “tate Prison on parole
in July, 1956. On the night before Thanksgiving, 1956, he shot and
killed Coburn Von Gunten in Akron when Von Gunten resisted his attempt
to commandeer his automobile for use in another robbery. Keith es-
caped to New York City where, BRXEKAXHXRKE in December, 1956, he
attempted to rob a Bronx taxidriver, David Suro,who drove his cab
into the side of a parked police cruiser. As Keith fled from the
taxi, he shot Suro in the head, killing him instantly. Keith was
seriously wounded in an exchange of gunfire with the police, but he

survived his wounds and tri, found guilt; sent to di
or Burots mrdex.. He wont to ee deat n he enneye é sapeles £

cha ir on July 23, 1959, one day less than 25 years after he had

thes Jyly 23, 1959

KEITH, Leroy—
2
Keith, a B&-year-old Negro, was living in Warren, Ohio, on July

1 Keith was sentenced to die in the electric
chair at two different trials but finally received a commutation of
his sentence. He was released fron the Ohio State Prison on parole
in July, 1956. On the night before Thanksgiving, 1956, he shot and

killed Coburn Von Gunten in Akron when Von Gunten resisted his attempt|
Keith es-

taxi, he instantly. Keith was
seriously wounded in an exchang:
Areeg Nig.raum aptaae fiafe ioumd en ane oat. gentateed.te ce

for Suro's mrder.
cha ir on July 23, 1959, one day less than 25 years after he had

Spl 234 1989

cry ma vgn ry Choy ay

Gercisine Gono