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An arrest warrant has been filed for Antwan McClain, charging the 36-year-old man with allegedly shooting to death Jimia Alston in her city home at 506 Louisa St. last week, according to court records made public Tuesday morning.
McClain, who faces several charges including, criminal homicide, aggravated assault and convicted felon to possess a firearm, remains at large, city police said. He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who knows his whereabouts is to call 911 or city police at 570-327-7560 Ext. 2.
Alston, 31, a mother of five children, was “discovered lying just inside the front door” of her home at 506 Louisa St. about 6:40 p.m. Thursday, Agent Justin Snyder, the lead investigator in the case, said in an affidavit.
“Witnesses reported they saw a black man, dressed in all black, with a handgun in his hand approach the home and fire one shot that struck Alston. The man then fled the house, heading east on foot,” officers were told, Snyder said.
Alston was “in front of the main entrance door” of the home when she was fatally wounded, Snyder said.
Additional information given to police lead investigators to McClain, of 1013 Hepburn St., as the alleged gunman, Snyder said.
There was no information in the affidavit indicating if McClain, also known as “Lava,” and Alston knew one another. Also, there was no mention of what the motive was behind the killing. When reached by phone at his office, Snyder said no additional information other than what was in the affidavit would be released at this time.
Alston was rushed to UPMC Williamsport, but she died while undergoing emergency surgery soon after she arrived at the medical facility.
“McClain did cause Alston’s death by shooting her once in the abdomen with a firearm,” Snyder alleged in a criminal complaint.
“He intentionally or recklessly discharged a firearm into a home which at the time was occupied by eight individuals,” Snyder said of McClain.
A year ago at this time, McClain pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a felony, thereby preventing him from possessing a firearm, Snyder said in the complaint.
Besides being a convicted drug dealer, McClain also has been on the other side the law when he was the victim of a shooting that occurred in broad daylight on the morning of Oct. 29, 2015 at Park Avenue and Grier Street.
While driving through the intersection in his car, McClain was shot by a passing motorist, who fired multiple shots at the vehicle. McClain suffered two gunshot wounds in his back.
Police allege the gunman was William Michael Blackwell, 31, who was arrested in Philadelphia four months later and was brought back here and jailed on attempted homicide and related charges. McClain had told investigators that he suspected he was targeted allegedly by Blackwell because Blackwell suspected McClain was setting him up to be robbed.
Although McClain had picked Blackwell’s picture out of photo array of possible suspects, the case soon collapsed because McClain refused to testify and “disappeared.” Blackwell was released from jail.
On the afternoon of Dec. 30, 2016, Blackwell was found shot to death in his car at Boyd and Arch streets in the cityás Newberry neighborhood by a mask gunman who fired multiple times at him at close range, police said. No arrest has ever been made in the case.