Pittsburgh police: Suspect in Florida homicide caught Downtown during Market Square smoke shop raid

A Florida man wanted on homicide charges in Florida was arrested in downtown Pittsburgh on Tuesday when police were searching for a suspect at a Market Square smoke shop, police said.

The suspect, Danitto Simpson, 26, was wanted on a warrant in connection with a homicide last September in Daytona Beach, Fla., Pittsburgh police said. He also wanted on another arrest warrant for an alleged aggravated assault of a pregnant woman, according to city police.

Simpson, a Jamaican native whose visa was expired, was living and working at the Smoking Starts Smoke Shop, 430 Market St., in Market Square.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal said that Simpson was wanted by police in connection with the Sept. 10 fatal shooting of Donnell Williams, 24, outside an apartment building. Police said the men were in an argument over a woman.

Arrested during raid

Simpson was arrested as Pittsburgh police narcotics and vice detectives were serving a separate search warrant in connection with the operation of the smoke shop, police said. The initial search of the smoke shop was prompted by multiple complaints from citizens and business owners, police said.

City police, along with Allegheny County Police and North Fayette Police, served a search warrant at 1000 Park Lane Drive, which is a hotel and primary residence of Shelly Omarie Duberry, one of the owners of Smoking Stars, police said.

Duberry, 38, was arrested and charged with possession and possession with intent to deliver of marijuana, police said.

Police allege that a stolen gun, “large quantities” of marijuana and THC products were recovered during a search of the store.

Simpson and Duberry were being held in the Allegheny County Jail on Tuesday night, pending an arraignment on the charges.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.