New Castle (KDKA) - Police are investigating after a man was found fatally shot in the head in New Castle.
Officials say gunfire erupted outside a building on West Terrace Avenue just before noon on Saturday.
Police say the victim, Arthur Cheeks, 23, was apparently shot while sitting in his vehicle.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Lawrence County Coroner says the victim was shot at least once in the head.
Anyone with information is asked to contact New Castle City Police at 724-656-3588.
http://kdka.com/topstories/New.Castle.Lawrence.2.386645.html
Police: Crack Addicts Purchased Guns For N.Y. Street Gang
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Pa. -- Police said two Lawrence County crack addicts are among six people charged in connection with an allegedly illegal gun purchase ring that provided local firearms to a Buffalo, N.Y., street gang.
A spokesman for the state attorney general's office said the two bought at least 18 guns from Lawrence and Mercer county stores in 2004 and 2005.
"The prosecution is the first in recent memory by our office targeting an organized ring of illegal gun purchasers," said Nils Frederiksen, a spokesman for Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett.
Five suspects were already in custody, including two straw purchasers and three alleged gang members from Buffalo. A sixth person, a juvenile from Buffalo, was still at large Thursday, Frederiksen said.
Some of the guns have been recovered by police in New Castle and in Buffalo.
Edward Lewis Wilkie, the alleged leader of the ring, is a member of the "Fruit Belt Posse," a Buffalo gang that operated in a neighborhood with streets such Peach Street, Mulberry Street and Orange Street.
Wilkie, 31, is already serving a federal prison sentence for drug crimes, Frederiksen said. He was charged by state prosecutors with participating in a corrupt organization, illegally selling or transferring a firearm, and related crimes including money laundering.
Pennsylvania authorities said police in Buffalo seized one gun, a .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol, after it was used in a crime on Jan. 30, 2004. That gun was purchased from a Pennsylvania gun dealer five days earlier by Louis J. Glorioso, 51, of New Castle, authorities said.
The gun dealer declined comment Thursday, but it was his tip that led to the investigation, authorities said in court documents.
The dealer was suspicious when guns were paid for in cash, using small bills, and because Glorioso and another straw purchaser were often accompanied by other people, including a man who once used a camera phone to take pictures of various guns for sale at the store, according to court papers.
Glorioso and another alleged straw purchaser, JoEllen Piccirillo, 50, of New Castle, both testified before a grand jury. Glorioso bought a total of 13 semiautomatic handguns from three Pennsylvania dealers, and Piccirillo bought four semiautomatic handguns from one dealer and an AR-15 assault rifle from another, authorities found.
They were arraigned weeks ago on one count each of illegal sale or transfer of a firearm, Frederiksen said.
A telephone message left at Glorioso's address was not immediately returned. The Associated Press could not immediately locate a phone number for Piccirillo.
After Wilkie was sent to federal prison, Chanel "Pomp" Pompey, 22, allegedly took over the Fruit Belt Posse. Pompey was sent to a New York state prison and, after that, a former Buffalo resident, Donnell Johnson, 22, of New Castle, allegedly took over, Frederiksen said.
Wilkie, Pompey and Johnson face identical charges. Johnson who was arrested Tuesday and remained in the Lawrence County Jail unable to post $20,000 bond on Thursday.
Officials said one juvenile remains at large.
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/10483044/detail.html
A spokesman for the state attorney general's office said the two bought at least 18 guns from Lawrence and Mercer county stores in 2004 and 2005.
"The prosecution is the first in recent memory by our office targeting an organized ring of illegal gun purchasers," said Nils Frederiksen, a spokesman for Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett.
Five suspects were already in custody, including two straw purchasers and three alleged gang members from Buffalo. A sixth person, a juvenile from Buffalo, was still at large Thursday, Frederiksen said.
Some of the guns have been recovered by police in New Castle and in Buffalo.
Edward Lewis Wilkie, the alleged leader of the ring, is a member of the "Fruit Belt Posse," a Buffalo gang that operated in a neighborhood with streets such Peach Street, Mulberry Street and Orange Street.
Wilkie, 31, is already serving a federal prison sentence for drug crimes, Frederiksen said. He was charged by state prosecutors with participating in a corrupt organization, illegally selling or transferring a firearm, and related crimes including money laundering.
Pennsylvania authorities said police in Buffalo seized one gun, a .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol, after it was used in a crime on Jan. 30, 2004. That gun was purchased from a Pennsylvania gun dealer five days earlier by Louis J. Glorioso, 51, of New Castle, authorities said.
The gun dealer declined comment Thursday, but it was his tip that led to the investigation, authorities said in court documents.
The dealer was suspicious when guns were paid for in cash, using small bills, and because Glorioso and another straw purchaser were often accompanied by other people, including a man who once used a camera phone to take pictures of various guns for sale at the store, according to court papers.
Glorioso and another alleged straw purchaser, JoEllen Piccirillo, 50, of New Castle, both testified before a grand jury. Glorioso bought a total of 13 semiautomatic handguns from three Pennsylvania dealers, and Piccirillo bought four semiautomatic handguns from one dealer and an AR-15 assault rifle from another, authorities found.
They were arraigned weeks ago on one count each of illegal sale or transfer of a firearm, Frederiksen said.
A telephone message left at Glorioso's address was not immediately returned. The Associated Press could not immediately locate a phone number for Piccirillo.
After Wilkie was sent to federal prison, Chanel "Pomp" Pompey, 22, allegedly took over the Fruit Belt Posse. Pompey was sent to a New York state prison and, after that, a former Buffalo resident, Donnell Johnson, 22, of New Castle, allegedly took over, Frederiksen said.
Wilkie, Pompey and Johnson face identical charges. Johnson who was arrested Tuesday and remained in the Lawrence County Jail unable to post $20,000 bond on Thursday.
Officials said one juvenile remains at large.
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/10483044/detail.html
Self-described minister charged
He was charged earlier this year with theft of money from an amateur football team.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A self-described minister is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
David Gailbreath, 27, of Smithfield Street, who was arrested in September on theft charges, was charged last week by New Castle police with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and two counts of indecent assault.
Police said he was arrested over the weekend on a bench warrant involving the prior theft charges and was awaiting arraignment Monday on the sex assault charges.
According to an affidavit filed to support the charges, Gailbreath, 27, is accused of having sex with a juvenile female every other week beginning in January 2005. The accuser was 13 at that time and is now 15, police said.
The accuser told police that there was a short period where they stopped having sex because her mother became suspicious. The affidavit stated that the accuser says he started touching her in the last few months, but they did not have intercourse.
His background
Gailbreath came to New Castle in January 2005 from New York state. He attempted to start an amateur football team, the New Castle Knights, which became defunct earlier this year when most of the team's management and players defected to the New Castle Thunder. The team played in the North American Football League for the 2006 season.
Gailbreath was charged in June with deceptive business practices, theft by deception and receiving stolen property after the Knights' former general manager accused Gailbreath of spending the team's money on things other than team business.
Others involved with the Knights told police Gailbreath was spending team money for his home mortgage, for his personal meals in restaurants and for other things.
A warrant for his arrest on those charges was issued Sept. 12 after he failed to appear in court.
No listing
Gailbreath, on his New Castle Knights Web site, refers to himself as "Reverend David Gailbreath."
The Universal Life Church Web site has his church listed as Knights of God Outreach Ministries. No location for the ministry is given and Knights of God Outreach Ministries does not appear in the New Castle telephone directory.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A self-described minister is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
David Gailbreath, 27, of Smithfield Street, who was arrested in September on theft charges, was charged last week by New Castle police with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and two counts of indecent assault.
Police said he was arrested over the weekend on a bench warrant involving the prior theft charges and was awaiting arraignment Monday on the sex assault charges.
According to an affidavit filed to support the charges, Gailbreath, 27, is accused of having sex with a juvenile female every other week beginning in January 2005. The accuser was 13 at that time and is now 15, police said.
The accuser told police that there was a short period where they stopped having sex because her mother became suspicious. The affidavit stated that the accuser says he started touching her in the last few months, but they did not have intercourse.
His background
Gailbreath came to New Castle in January 2005 from New York state. He attempted to start an amateur football team, the New Castle Knights, which became defunct earlier this year when most of the team's management and players defected to the New Castle Thunder. The team played in the North American Football League for the 2006 season.
Gailbreath was charged in June with deceptive business practices, theft by deception and receiving stolen property after the Knights' former general manager accused Gailbreath of spending the team's money on things other than team business.
Others involved with the Knights told police Gailbreath was spending team money for his home mortgage, for his personal meals in restaurants and for other things.
A warrant for his arrest on those charges was issued Sept. 12 after he failed to appear in court.
No listing
Gailbreath, on his New Castle Knights Web site, refers to himself as "Reverend David Gailbreath."
The Universal Life Church Web site has his church listed as Knights of God Outreach Ministries. No location for the ministry is given and Knights of God Outreach Ministries does not appear in the New Castle telephone directory.
Police: 19-Year-Old Woman Shot, Killed
New Castle (KDKA) - Police in New Castle are investigating after a young woman was gunned down inside of a house.
Police say 19-year-old Kayla Jones was shot in the chest on Chestnut Street Wednesday night.
Jones was taken to Jameson Memorial Hospital where she later died.
New Castle police arrested 18-year-old Lee A. Campbell III and charged him with criminal homicide.
He was arraigned this morning and taken to the Lawrence County Jail.
Campbell is being held without bond.
http://kdka.com/topstories/New.Castle.Shooting.2.385761.html
Police say 19-year-old Kayla Jones was shot in the chest on Chestnut Street Wednesday night.
Jones was taken to Jameson Memorial Hospital where she later died.
New Castle police arrested 18-year-old Lee A. Campbell III and charged him with criminal homicide.
He was arraigned this morning and taken to the Lawrence County Jail.
Campbell is being held without bond.
http://kdka.com/topstories/New.Castle.Shooting.2.385761.html
Lawrence Co. Cars Being Fire Bombed
New Castle (KDKA) - Auto owners in Lawrence County have reason to be on edge.
Some people are firebombing cars and - in some cases - using Molotov cocktails.
Police are searching for a connection between the crimes.
The results are the same - damaged automobiles.
New Castle Schaefer Automotive Services has been in business for 50 years. Recently, police were called to the business because a car was said to have been burned on the property.
One victim told KDKA's Ross Guidotti that his vehicle suffered superficial damage, but that he and his cars are in hiding.
He also said that if the firebomb would have hit the car in the right spot, this could have been a catastrophe.
They used a Molotov cocktail - a bottle of vodka with kerosene or gasoline in it with a rag sticking out of the end.
New Castle investigators continue to look at the fires.
There is no word on any suspects.
http://kdka.com/topstories/Lawrence.County.fire.2.385289.html
Some people are firebombing cars and - in some cases - using Molotov cocktails.
Police are searching for a connection between the crimes.
The results are the same - damaged automobiles.
New Castle Schaefer Automotive Services has been in business for 50 years. Recently, police were called to the business because a car was said to have been burned on the property.
One victim told KDKA's Ross Guidotti that his vehicle suffered superficial damage, but that he and his cars are in hiding.
He also said that if the firebomb would have hit the car in the right spot, this could have been a catastrophe.
They used a Molotov cocktail - a bottle of vodka with kerosene or gasoline in it with a rag sticking out of the end.
New Castle investigators continue to look at the fires.
There is no word on any suspects.
http://kdka.com/topstories/Lawrence.County.fire.2.385289.html
Police make drug arrests at local motels
By Debbie Wachter Morris
New Castle News
New Castle News
Shenango Township police patrolling New Butler Road motels arrested five people this week.
Four allegedly were caught with drug paraphernalia in rented rooms at the Eldorado and Shenango motels, police said. One driver leaving the Eldorado allegedly had a stolen semiautomatic handgun under the seat.
In some cases, management told police the tenants with drug paraphernalia were in rooms others had rented, and that two of the men actually had been refused room rentals because they had stayed there previously and stole towels, washcloths and pillow cases. The manager told them they were not allowed back.
They are Antwan Johnson, 41, of Clarksdale, Miss., and Adrian C. Jones, 23, of Louisiana. Police said neither has a permanent local address.
Johnson and Jones, both charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and defiant trespass, are in jail.
Johnson was wanted on a bench warrant and awaits trial for allegedly having shot at someone on Halco Drive in November. He told police he was displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Police Wednesday charged Craig A. Pierce of 1005 Beech St., after pulling him over in a gray Nissan sedan when he left the motel around 1 a.m. Tuesday. The car, where the stolen gun was found, had a broken tail light, a cracked windshield, its registration plate was covered and the inspection sticker had expired.
The car is registered to a Beaver Falls resident.
Police charged Pierce with receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license and driving while his license is suspended.
Police returned to a room at the Eldorado with Pierce in a cruiser. Johnson and Jones were in the room, which a woman had rented, they said.
Police searched it and seized five used hypodermic needles, a digital scale containing suspected cocaine residue, a package of plastic bags and two razor blades with suspected drug residue and more than $750 cash.
In a separate incident, Police went to the Shenango Motel around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday to investigate a suspicious car with the driver’s side door open.
They learned the driver, Aaron Pallerino, 51, of 2062 Moravia St., had rented a room. They knocked on his door and while talking to him, officers saw drug paraphernalia and crack cocaine on the dresser, they said.
Pallerino tried to hide the items, and a woman, later identified as Crystal E. Lowe, 26, of 923 N. Liberty St. went into the bathroom, according to police. Pallerino told police he did not know the woman’s name. She gave police a false name, they said, but later was identified.
Pallerino and Lowe are charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and false information to law enforcement authorities.
Patrolman Robert Sipe said the police have been paying special attention to the motels. “New Butler Road has the only motels in Lawrence County and we get a lot of drug traffic through there,” he said, adding the problems have moved from the city. Patrolman Jason Domenick said prostitution also is a problem at the motels. “That’s a main reason, along with drugs, why we’re keeping an eye on it,” he said. “It’s really busy out there at night.” Eldorado manager Jay Patel said that when someone wants to rent a room and produces a license and identification, “it’s not on anybody’s forehead what they’re going to do.” He said that whenever the police approach him with a problem, they help each other and work together.
http://www.ncnewsonline.com/archivesearch/local_story_181090937.html
Hearing Postponed: Donald Conti
Hearing postponed
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A hearing to determine if Donald Conti can remain on the Lawrence County Housing Authority was postponed. Conti was to appear Monday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court. County commissioners have asked for his removal since Conti pleaded guilty to gambling charges earlier this year. Tom Bashara, the attorney handling the matter for the county, said the hearing was canceled because Judge J. Craig Cox is involved in a trial. A new date hasn't been set.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2006/apr/26/hearing-postponed/
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A hearing to determine if Donald Conti can remain on the Lawrence County Housing Authority was postponed. Conti was to appear Monday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court. County commissioners have asked for his removal since Conti pleaded guilty to gambling charges earlier this year. Tom Bashara, the attorney handling the matter for the county, said the hearing was canceled because Judge J. Craig Cox is involved in a trial. A new date hasn't been set.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2006/apr/26/hearing-postponed/
Teens Injured In New Castle Shooting
New Castle (KDKA) - A shooting in Lawrence County sent two teenagers to a Pittsburgh hospital this afternoon, but investigators are still trying to get to the bottom of what exactly happened.
Emergency crews confirmed that two young men -- an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old – suffered gunshot wounds; both were flown via medical helicopter from Jameson Hospital to UPMC Presbyterian.
Police are on the scene now.
Authorities are not releasing the victims' names or conditions at this point.
http://kdka.com/topstories/New.Castle.Shooting.2.382017.html
Emergency crews confirmed that two young men -- an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old – suffered gunshot wounds; both were flown via medical helicopter from Jameson Hospital to UPMC Presbyterian.
Police are on the scene now.
Authorities are not releasing the victims' names or conditions at this point.
http://kdka.com/topstories/New.Castle.Shooting.2.382017.html