Youngstown police believe Brian J. Brodie fired the first shots in a gunbattle that left him dead.

Brodie, 30, of 1023 Fruit Ave., Farrell, shot Sylvester Cox III, 39, of Youngstown, six times after robbing him, police said.

"It looks like Brodie started it," said Sgt. Jose Morales.

The pair had a history that might have included Cox robbing or ripping off Brodie years ago, police said.

The men had been in the Buckeye Elks Club in Youngstown Sunday night and Cox said something about Brodie, but they did not argue, police said.

Police gave this account of what happened next:

Brodie and Cox left the club at about the same time. Cox got into a car when Brodie pulled a gun and robbed him.

Cox, who was listed in stable condition Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, told police Brodie took a watch and $210.

Brodie shot Cox six times, but Cox was able to get his gun and fire at Brodie as Brodie was running away. Brodie got into a car and Cox fired a shot at the car as it was moving; the shot hit Brodie in the head.

Cox fired four times in all.

Cox's watch was found in Brodie's car, police said.

Morales said the case will be given to a Mahoning County grand jury to determine if charges will be filed. It could take several weeks for ballistics and medical reports to come back, and the grand jury will not hear the case until it is convened, he said.

While Anita Taylor of Farrell told police that Brodie was shot after talking to two men who were in a parked car, other witness accounts have fallen in line with Cox's story that Brodie came over to him and robbed and shot him, Morales said.

Brodie was shot at about 10:47 p.m. and admitted to St. Elizabeth's at 10:50, according to Mahoning County Coroner Dr. David M. Kennedy. Brodie was pronounced dead at 10:54, said Kennedy, who ruled the death a homicide.