Suspect sought in man's killing

Two women witnessed the argument, and one of them saw the shooting.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- An apparent gun deal gone bad was the impetus for a shooting that left a 20-year-old city man dead.
City police have issued an arrest warrant for Marlen Cooper, 46, of West Washington Street in Monday's shooting death of Michael Boutros of Rebecca Street.
Cooper is charged with criminal homicide, carrying a firearm without a license and being a convicted felon prohibited from carrying a firearm.
Police said they found Boutros lying on the kitchen floor of 1110 Booker Drive when they arrived at 6 p.m. Monday. Boutros later died at Jameson Hospital from a single gunshot wound to his left abdomen/lung area, they said.
An affidavit filed to support the charges says Angel Perry and Desiree Niglio said they were in the kitchen of the Booker Drive home talking to Cooper when Boutros arrived.
Boutros told Perry that he had the gun she had made arrangements to buy from him, court papers stated. He removed the gun from a small black holster and put it on the kitchen counter, authorities said.
Shot fired
Court papers stated that Cooper picked up the gun, pointed it at Boutros, and told him to leave. Boutros and Cooper argued when Boutros demanded the gun back, saying he would return with friends if not given the weapon, the affidavit says.
Police said Niglio took Perry's 8-year-old son, who was in the adjoining living room, to another area of the house where they heard a gunshot. Niglio and the boy then left for her apartment. Police said Perry saw Cooper fire the gun and Boutros fall to the floor. Cooper ran out the back door, court papers said.
Police said Cooper is black and about 5 feet 11 inches tall. Anyone knowing his whereabouts should call city police at (724) 656-9300.