By Rick Bruni Jr.

Published: Thursday, December 13, 2012, 3:50 p.m.
Updated: Friday, December 14, 2012

After nearly 10 days in hiding, attempted homicide suspect Antoine “Tweezy” Hairston of Monessen was captured on Thursday afternoon by local and federal law enforcement officials.

Charleroi Regional Police and the U.S. Marshal's Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force arrested Hairston, 19, about 1:30 p.m. at 505 Eighth St. in Charleroi, according to Monessen police Chief Mark Gibson.

Hairston and four others were charged on Dec. 4 with attempted homicide, attempted aggravated assault and two felony conspiracy charges. They are accused of attempting to shoot Jaisen Irwin on the afternoon of Dec. 3 at the Highland Manor housing development in Monessen.

Gibson said Hairston was found hiding in the basement of the residence occupied by Samantha Scagline, 34. Hairston was arrested without incident, he said.

Gibson was not sure whether charges will be filed against Scagline.

Monessen police had received two anonymous phone calls saying Hairston would surrender with an attorney, but the suspect never showed. Gibson said police continued to follow multiple leads on Hairston,

“We were getting different locations and following each one,” Gibson said. “I felt he was still in the area because that's where he knows people and where his comfort zone is.”

The five suspects are accused of chasing and shooting at Irwin, who they believed had implicated them in the Dec. 3 murder of Chris Fincik, 36, of Monessen. Fincik was fatally shot when he answered the door of his Maple Avenue home about 12:25 a.m. No charges have been filed in his death.

Irwin told police that the group chased and shot at him near the Elks Club on Knox Avenue and Highland Manor.

Three other suspects facing charges in the attempted shooting — brothers Josh Stepoli and Terrance Stepoli and Ethan “Earl” Pinkney — remain in the Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bond.

The fifth suspect, Samone Stepoli, 21, turned herself in on Dec. 4 and posted $10,000 bail the next day.

Authorities expected to arraign Hairston on Thursday evening before Monessen District Justice Joseph Dalfonso.

Charleroi Regional police Chief Mike Matyas was not immediately available for comment.

Rick Bruni Jr. is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-684-2635 or at rbruni@tribweb.com.

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