Corry police release identity of fight victim

CORRY — Authorities continued their investigation on Thursday into the death of a 70-year-old Warren County man following a fight at a mobile home park in the city on Tuesday afternoon.

Corry police identified the victim on Thursday as Joe Paszkowski, 70, of Columbus, who died following the fight at a mobile home park in the 13600 block of West Washington Street.

The cause of Paszkowski's death remains under investigation. Erie County forensic pathologist Eric Vey, M.D., performed an autopsy on Wednesday, but Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook said he is holding off on a ruling on the cause and manner of death until he can obtain additional information on the man’s medical history.

Paszkowski was pronounced dead at Corry Memorial Hospital after he had gotten into a fight with a 51-year-old man at a mobile home on Tuesday at about 2:15 p.m. Paszkowski had arrived at the residence to drop off some groceries and to take a woman there out to eat when he began fighting with the 51-year-old man, whose name has not been released, according to Corry police.

Occupants of the residence separated the two men and a woman walked with Paszkowski to a vehicle that they both entered to leave the area. When officers arrived the woman told them that Paszkowski was not breathing, police reported on Wednesday.

Investigators have interviewed the 51-year-old man and witnesses to the fight and plan to examine Paszkowski's cell phone as part of the ongoing investigation, Corry Police Chief Rich Shopene said Wednesday afternoon.

Tim Hahn can be reached at 870-1731 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ETNhahn.