Homicide suspect arrested in Homewood after standoff with Pittsburgh police

A 21-year-old man wanted for a fatal shooting March 19 in South Side Slopes was arrested early Tuesday inside an apartment in Homewood after a standoff with Pittsburgh police that lasted several hours.

Zahvair Palmer of McKeesport was taken into custody early Tuesday, according to city public safety officials.

The standoff began about 6 p.m. Monday after police received information that a homicide suspect may be inside an apartment along the 7300 block of Bennett Street.

Public safety spokesman Maurice Matthews said police received information the suspect was possibly barricaded inside the apartment and SWAT officers and negotiators were called.

The man, identified later as Palmer, was told to come out, but he repeatedly refused to respond, Matthews said.

Shortly after midnight, SWAT made entry and Zahvair Palmer was taken into custody. Medics evaluated him on scene and he was taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

Palmer was wanted for a fatal shooting of Adam Cloud, 29, of New Kensington on the 1000 block of Freyburg Street on Pittsburgh’s South Side.

Police issued an arrest warrant for Palmer on charges of criminal homicide, robbery and weapons violations in May.

Police said Cloud was fatally shot in the chest during a fight outside a nearby skate shop.