Police issue warrant in deadly home invasion

Police yesterday issued an arrest warrant for a 34-year-old man accused, with another man, of invading a North Philadelphia home before dawn Monday, and killing a 19-year-old mother and wounding her boyfriend and a son as the family slept.

Capt. James Clark of the Homicide Unit said James "Putt" Williford of the 2100 block of North 20th Street was identified by the dead woman's boyfriend, 20-year-old Amin Payne.

He said investigators were trying to identify the second suspect. Police said Williford and another man pumped bullets into a bed in the 3300 block of Mutter Street as the couple and their two children slept.

Samantha Houston was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital shortly before 6 a.m. Monday. Her 3-year-old son, Amin Payne Jr., was in critical condition yesterday at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Amin Payne, who was shot several times, was in fair condition yesterday at Temple.

Only Amir Payne, a 1-year-old boy, was not injured, Clark said. He was placed in the care of family, he added.

Clark said the shooting was drug-related and not tied to a gambling debt as previously thought.

"We believe money is owed," Clark said.

The boy's father was the apparent target of the attempted killing.

Police asked that anyone with information about James Williford call them at 215-686-3334 or 215-686-3335.