David Agar had big plans.

A career in video production. A reunion in America with his mother. A Steelers Super Bowl win.

He was a high school graduate. He owned a Pontiac Grand Prix and worked full-time.

He accomplished it after arriving in the United States in December 2000 as one of the so-called "Lost Boys," the members of two generations of Sudanese youth displaced by their country's more than two-decades-long civil war.

Originally settled in Philadelphia as part of the humanitarian effort, he moved to Pittsburgh in October 2003. He turned 24 on New Year's Day.

Early Saturday morning, after he spent the night drinking beer and celebrating the end of the work week, all of Mr. Agar's plans ended. According to Pittsburgh police, at 5:21 that morning, Mr. Agar lay dying on Fifth Avenue, Uptown, the victim of an apparent robbery.

Police yesterday arrested Todd A. Akrie, 26, of Oltman Street in Windgap, and charged with him with homicide and robbery. He was held in the Allegheny County Jail.

Mr. Akrie has an extensive arrest record, according to Allegheny County court records. He has pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property twice, aggravated assault, driving with a suspended license, forging documents and numerous motor vehicle violations.

He was scheduled to appear in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court in April on a variety of charges ranging from theft by deception and conspiracy, to possession or distribution of marijuana and hashish.

His attorney, Sumner Parker, helped arrange Mr. Akrie's surrender to police yesterday.

A witness said Mr. Akrie had been at the same club -- the 822 on Fifth Avenue -- as Mr. Agar. According to the police affidavit, Mr. Akrie and two friends were standing in front of a bright green Chevy Impala when Mr. Agar and a friend left the club.

The affidavit says Mr. Agar and a friend, Lucio Loboi, got into Mr. Loboi's car to leave. According to the affidavit, as Mr. Loboi was about to drive away in his silver Honda, Mr. Agar asked him to stop the car.

But Mr. Loboi said in an interview yesterday at the one-bedroom Prospect Park apartment in Whitehall he shared with Mr. Agar and another man, that before they drove away Mr. Akrie approached the car's passenger side and demanded, "Give me the money."

"Man, I don't have no money," Mr. Loboi said he answered, while raising his hands in the air.

Mr. Loboi said Mr. Agar said the same thing. Mr. Loboi said Mr. Akrie opened the car's passenger door. As Mr. Agar stepped out of the car, he tussled with Mr. Akrie before breaking free and taking a step. That's when he was shot, Mr. Loboi said.

"Man, are you all right?" Mr. Loboi remembered asking his friend.

"I'm all right."

"I just said, 'Man, keep breathing. Keep breathing,' " Mr. Loboi recalled yesterday.

Mr. Agar was taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

By all rights, Mr. Agar's first 18 years of life should have granted him immunity from such senselessness. At 8 he trekked eight months to escape Sudanese government soldiers, watching friends die of starvation or be eaten by crocodiles as thousands of boys tried to cross the Gilo River. He spent nine years in a Kenyan refugee camp, living on 6 pounds of wheat and 6 pounds of maize every two weeks, plus an occasional cup of lentils.

He was quiet and gentle, friends said. Yesterday, they talked about the rides he constantly offered single parents, about how much he liked the Steelers, about his faith.

They passed around his Haverford High School yearbook and read and re-read his words: "I love Haverford High School because people are so nice. Now I am going to miss all people -- teachers and my friends, but no problem, I am still coming back to see everybody in school. Thank you for all your cooperation."

Mr. Agar attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for two semesters until he learned his mother was alive in a Kenyan refugee camp. He quit school and began work at Gottlieb Recycling on Neville Island, sending her money each month and saving to bring her to the United States.

He had plans.