Man sought in PHA carpenter’s killing captured

A man wanted in the killing of a Philadelphia Housing Authority carpenter was arrested early this morning in upstate New York, officials said.

Jamaal Simmons, 26, a passenger in a car that was headed to Vermont was wanted in the murder of Rodney Barnes, 46, of Elkins Park.

Police in Whitehall, N.Y., at the southern tip of Lake Champlain, pulled over the car about 2 a.m. as it was speeding on Route 4, said Chief Matthew Dickinson of the Whitehall police.

When he ran the names of the driver and passenger through the National Crime Information Center's computer system, the officer came up with two hits.

"The driver was wanted on a parole violation out of Pennsylvania," Dickenson said, "and the passenger was wanted in a murder."

The officer waited for backup and took the two men into custody without incident, Dickenson said. The men are being held in the Washington County jail.

Several organizations had posted a $53,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Barnes' killer.

Barnes was shot in the back of the head July 25 while he unloaded tools from a truck at the Raymond Rosen Manor housing project at 24th and Norris Streets in North Philadelphia. He died of his injuries August 5.

Barnes was the father of four and also a minister at the Mount Airy Church of God in Christ.