Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office has concurred with Youngstown police that Brian J. Brodie of Farrell was fatally shot in self-defense.

Sylvester Cox III, 39, of Youngstown, told police he had been shot six times and robbed by Brodie, 30, March 23 before returning fire.

"The officers and lawyers determined this was a clear-cut case of self-defense," said Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains. "Mr. Cox was never charged. The case is closed unless there is some other evidence that tells us otherwise."

Youngstown Police Sgt. Jose Morales had said within days of the shooting that Brodie probably fired first, but it took several months for ballistics and other evidence test results to come back. The evidence was then turned over to the prosecutor's office for review.

Brodie and Cox 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 the 400 block of North Avenue March 23 and Cox said something about Brodie, but they did not argue, police said.