Fugitive sought in homicide Nov. 15 in Campbell is caught

YOUNGSTOWN — A 23-year-old fugitive sought in a Campbell
homicide has been captured.

Melvin E. Johnson Jr. was arrested around 12:15 a.m. Monday by members of the FBI/Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force, Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force gang unit and Youngstown police. Johnson answered the door at a relative’s house on East Auburndale Avenue and was taken into custody, said Detective Sgt. John Elberty.

Johnson, whose last known address was McClure Avenue, is accused of shooting 29-year-old Marvin L. Hodges during an argument near the Michael J. Kirwan Homes on Jackson Street in Campbell on Nov. 15, 2007. Hodges was shot four times in the head and chest, according to Vindicator files. He had addresses in Youngstown, Girard and Campbell.

Campbell police obtained a warrant for Johnson the day after the shooting, Elberty said.

Since then, numerous leads were run down by the violent crimes task force, and continuos searches of residences were conducted in an attempt to locate Johnson. At one point information was developed that indicated Johnson had fled the state and a federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued.

Elberty said Information was developed over the weekend that Johnson was possibly in the city. The push to find him started at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Johnson had twice been featured in The Vindicator as fugitive of the week.