AMBRIDGE, Pa. — A quiet Ambridge neighborhood was rocked by violence early Sunday morning after a double homicide left two people dead inside a home on Locust Street. Police say a suspect is now in custody, bringing some relief to residents as investigators continue working to understand what led to the deadly shooting.
According to the Ambridge Police Department, officers were dispatched around 2:30 a.m. to the 300 block of Locust Street after multiple 911 callers reported hearing gunshots in the area. When officers arrived, a witness told them the shots appeared to have come from inside a nearby residence, prompting police to immediately secure the scene and enter the home.
Inside the residence, officers discovered two victims, a man and a woman, both suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite emergency response efforts, both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene. Police later identified the victims as Andre Littles, 54, of Pittsburgh, and Ashley Anne Delucca, 38, of Ambridge. News of their deaths quickly spread through the small community, leaving friends and neighbors stunned.
Investigators moved swiftly following the discovery. Police said a suspect was quickly identified, and a regional alert was issued to surrounding law enforcement agencies as authorities searched for the individual believed to be responsible for the shooting. Officers worked through the early morning hours gathering evidence and tracking the suspect’s movements.
Later Sunday morning, at approximately 8:37 a.m., the Ohio State Highway Patrol notified Ambridge police that the suspect had been located and apprehended in Zanesville, Ohio. Authorities said the suspect was involved in a vehicle crash before being taken into custody. He was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment prior to his arrest.
Police identified the suspect as Howard James Thomas Jr., 39, of Ambridge. Investigators confirmed that Thomas was arrested on a warrant charging him with two counts of homicide. Ambridge Mayor Tina Iorfido-Schmidt released a statement expressing deep sadness over the tragic loss of life and offering condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones. She also assured residents that there is no ongoing threat to the public and thanked police, first responders, and investigators for their professionalism and dedication. Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing as they work to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
