Fugitive task force nabs man wanted in fatal Larimer shooting

The Greater Pittsburgh Fugitive Task Force and the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office tracked down a man wanted in a homicide in January in Larimer.

Authorities arrested Rodney Howard Jr., 30, in Baldwin on Thursday. He is accused of shooting Hosea Davis, 37, of Lincoln-Lemington on Jan. 20.

An unidentified witness told investigators Davis was bringing a bag of heroin to Rapidan Way when a man the witness knew to be Howard came around the corner with an assault-style weapon and fired. The witness dove into nearby weeds to hide and remained there until the shooting stopped, a criminal complaint stated. The witness later picked Howard out of a photo array.

Howard's preliminary hearing on the homicide charge is scheduled for Sept. 26.

When police arrived at Howard's house on Clairton Boulevard on Thursday, they saw evidence of a large heroin distribution operation.

Allegheny County sheriff's deputies obtained a search warrant, and, with members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, found more than 4,800 packaged stamp bags of heroin; a large quantity of raw, uncut heroin; about 50,000 empty stamp bags; and distribution and packaging supplies.

They charged Howard and Cheyenne Arrington, 19, who was inside the residence, with offenses including drug possession with intent to distribute and tampering with evidence.

Howard and Arrington are being held at the Allegheny County Jail.

Their preliminary hearings on the drug charges are scheduled for Sept. 30 before Whitehall District Judge David J. Barton.

Adam Brandolph is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-391-0927 or abrandolph@tribweb.com.