A McKeesport man, charged this weekend with a robbery and shooting last year at The Waterfront, already had been in and out of jail on unrelated charges before his arrest in the homicide case.

Brandon Jeffrey Johnson, 21, was arrested Oct. 5 after an informant told police he could be found that day driving a stolen car and carrying a pistol.

During the McKeesport investigation of the gun and car theft case, another informant told police Mr. Johnson was responsible for the July 13, 2008, fatal shooting of a worker at Damon's Grill at The Waterfront.

The suspect was briefly questioned Oct. 5 outside a house on Garbett Street. He denied he had driven to that location.

McKeesport police were leaving the area when they noticed a vehicle that matched the description of the stolen car. It was parked around the corner from where Mr. Johnson had been questioned.

After the vehicle was spotted, Mr. Johnson was arrested. Allegheny County homicide investigators said a revolver was found inside the vehicle.

It has not been confirmed whether the gun is the same one used last year in the shooting at Damon's.

Mr. Johnson was arraigned on Oct. 6 on charges of receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence because the gun's identification numbers were removed, possession of a firearm with altered identification and carrying a firearm without a permit.

He was released later that day on $10,000 bond, pending a preliminary hearing Monday.

While the suspect was out on bond, an informant told police he was the gunman who shot and killed Brian Lee, 19, during a robbery at Damon's.

The informant, according to a police affidavit, told investigators that shortly after Mr. Lee was killed, Mr. Johnson left the area on foot because police had closed all four exits to The Waterfront.

Mr. Johnson explained to the informant that he changed his clothes in his Jeep in the parking lot. He left the vehicle there with the black clothing worn by the homicide suspect and the suspected murder weapon, as well as the money reported stolen in the robbery.

While watching the morning news on July 14, 2008, the informant said he saw the suspect's Jeep in the parking lot where Mr. Johnson said he left it.

He later returned to retrieve the vehicle and its contents, the affidavit said.

The informant told police Mr. Johnson, back in McKeesport, removed three spent rounds from the chamber of his revolver. He commented that he did not remember having fired that many shots.

The suspect also said, "I had to do it. I had to shoot him," the affidavit said.

The gunman had staked out Damon's before the robbery, waiting for anyone to exit with the day's money receipts slated for night deposit, the affidavit said.

The affidavit said the suspect described the robbery and shooting much like the manager at Damon's, who witnessed it.

The manager said Mr. Lee saw the suspect coming and tried to close the door only to have the gunman's arm and gun wedged in the opening before the shots were fired.

Mr. Johnson is being held without bail in the county jail, pending a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 4 in Municipal Court.

He is charged with homicide, carrying a firearm without a permit, aggravated assault and robbery.

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