State police investigating Aliquippa homicide

The Beaver County Coroner’s Office identified the man killed Wednesday in a double shooting in Aliquippa as 32-year-old Terrell Henson.

Henson died of gunshot wounds to the head and chest and Coroner David Gabauer ruled the death a homicide. State police are investigating instead of Aliquippa’s department, which has placed three officers — including its chief and assistant chief — on leave over the past two months.

Dana Lamar Penny, 36, of Aliquippa, is wanted on homicide and a litany of other charges in connection with Wednesday’s shooting.

State police allege in a criminal complaint that Henson and Penny identified themselves as federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents when they approached a house on the city’s Third Avenue and confronted Briona Hicks, who was smoking on a front porch.

“DEA surveillance, wire tap,” the men told Hicks, according to the complaint.

Hicks told police she had been waiting for a ride-share service to arrive to take her to her boyfriend’s home in Coraopolis when Henson and Penny came onto the porch. She identified Penny, but told police she didn’t know Henson.

The men, both wearing shirts that said “DEA,” forced their way into the house and attempted to handcuff Hicks. As one of the men held a gun to Hicks’ head, she screamed for her mother Margie Gilliam, who had been sleeping upstairs with three children, police said.

When the men tried to drag Hicks out of the house, her brother and next-door neighbor Anthony Farley tried to come in the front door. Henson shot Farley, who returned fire and wounded Henson, police said.

Henson was pronounced dead at the Third Avenue house. Farley is recovering at UPMC Mercy hospital, police said.

Video surveillance of the home confirms that two men entered the house, there was a physical altercation and Penny could be seen with a handgun in his left hand.

Penny remained at large Thursday and faces charges including homicide, burglary, aggravated assault, criminal trespass, unlawful restraint, simple assault and carrying a firearm without a license. He has two previous felony drug convictions that prohibit him from carrying or owning a gun, police said.

Farley was not charged.

State police ask anyone with information on Penny’s whereabouts to call them at 724-773-7400.

When asked why his department was not handling the investigation, Aliquippa’s acting police Chief Robert Sealock said, “We’re extremely short-handed and (have) limited resources and that’s pretty much it. I’m going to make that policy for now, to involve (state police) in our homicide and other major incidents.”

Aliquippa placed Chief Don Couch on paid leave for unspecified reasons June 6. Assistant Chief Joseph Perciavalle III was named acting chief but suspended two days later after authorities said he sent explicit sexual material in a group message that included the teenage daughter of Sgt. Kenneth Watkins, who was placed on leave following the May 13 murder of 33-year-old Rachael DelTondo. Watkins’ daughter had been with DelTondo minutes before she was killed.

In one of his first orders of business when he became acting chief last month, Sealock recused Aliquippa’s department from the DelTondo investigation but said the department “will be focusing our resources on other investigations and looking out for the safety and welfare of our citizens. Our efforts will be concentrated on moving forward and continuing to be active within the city of Aliquippa.”

Tom Davidson is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tom at 724-226-4715, tdavidson@tribweb.com or via Twitter @kingofgonzo.