Man wanted in Warren killing to appear in Mercer Co. court

WARREN — City detectives will find out Friday if Steven Brown, accused of killing a city man, will waive extradition to Ohio when he appears in a Farrell, Pa., court.

Brown, 29, of Warren, is in the Mercer County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

He has been charged in Pennsylvania with receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia as a result of his arrest the day after the shooting last Thursday of Johnny Williamson, also of Warren.

Brown will appear before District Magistrate Ronald Antos for a preliminary hearing on the Pennsylvania charges.

Warren Detective Wayne Mackey said Wednesday that he and Detective Justin Soroka will attend the hearing to talk with Brown about waiving extradition to Ohio to face the murder charge.

Mackey said if Brown refuses to return to Ohio, extradition proceedings will begin.

Brown is accused of shooting Williamson, 24, at Williamson’s home at 1535 North Park Ave. No motive has been given by police.

Brown was shot several times, and the Trumbull County coroner ruled the death a homicide.

After Williamson’s body was found, Warren police received a tip that Brown might be in the Hermitage area. Pennsylvania State Police were notified.

He was apprehended about 1 a.m. Friday at the Starlite Inn on South Hermitage Road in Hermitage after police spotted his car in the motel parking lot.

Williamson’s death is the city’s eighth homicide of the year, compared with just two during the same period in 2006.