Police charge New Castle man in homicide

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Authorities said they don't know yet why a city man was shot to death as he walked near his home in the 700 block of Altman Road early Saturday, but they have a suspect in custody.
Christopher Herbin, 26, of North Liberty Street, was arrested at his home around 1 a.m. Sunday on charges of criminal homicide and recklessly endangering another person and arraigned before District Justice J.V. Lamb who ordered him held in Lawrence County Jail without bond.
Police said Herbin is accused in the fatal shooting of Alfredo Soto, 20, around 1 a.m. Saturday.
The shooting occurred in the Harbor Heights Housing Project where Soto lives, authorities said. Soto also had a Youngstown address, police said.
"This was not a random act of violence," said Matt Mangino, Lawrence County district attorney.
A motive hasn't been established. The two men knew each other, though the extent of their connection was unclear, Mangino said this morning.
Police said there was no indication of robbery or that the murder might be drug related.
Evidence indicates six shots were fired, likely from a handgun, at Soto, Mangino said, noting that Soto was struck in the arm and the chest.
He was taken to Jameson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:02 a.m. Saturday and the death was ruled a homicide, Mangino said. No weapon was recovered, he said.
New Castle Police Chief Victor Cubellis said this morning that there were witnesses to the shooting who helped police identify Herbin as the suspect.