ARREST MADE IN SHOOTING CASE

GUNMAN STILL BEING SOUGHT BY COPS

Elyria – Elyria Police have arrested 19-year-old Alverno Howse of Elyria and charged him with Tampering with Evidence at the home where 17 year old Chuckie Howard was killed. Police would not elaborate on the charge. Shortly after the arrest Thursday Police and members of the U.S. Marshall’s Fugitive Task Force were seen searching the home of Alverno Howse at 1014 Riverside Drive in Elyria.

During an afternoon press conference Thursday Mayor Bill Grace said that all city resources would be behind the search for the gunman. “All resources are available to Police to find the perpetrators of what took place and to intercede in anything that may follow up from this.” Grace said that members of the community have been coming forward, lead in part by the NAACP and members of the Clergy to assist Police.

Chief Michael Medders of the Elyria Police Department began by expressing his condolences to the Howard family. “It’s very tragic that he did die in this manner. I think it’s very tragic anytime we lose anybody in the city. I’ve been in this job for 33 years and this never gets easy to see young kids get killed.”

Medders said that while he is Chief in the City of Elyria he will “not tolerate this kind of conduct in this city, we’re going to put a task force in this city to deal with theses issues.”

Medders is asking the community to start calling the Police Department when they see a kid or anyone with a gun in the city. “We are going to put a massive amount of Policemen in this area to try and stop this surge. I do not think this is a large group of people – Most of the citizens in this town are good, upstanding people.” Medders also asked that anyone who knows anything call the Police so that the people responsible can be put in jail.

ELYRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT 440.323.3302