Police have arrested the suspect who is accused of shooting and killing a man in downtown Erie last week.

Defonta Butler, 30, was arraigned Saturday evening on charges including homicide, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm prohibited, firearms not to be carried without a license, possession of an instrument of crime with intent, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault.

The shooting happened on E. 17th St. between State and French St. around 11:47 a.m. Friday.

Butler was driving a Ford SUV when he fired at least eight rounds from a gun, hitting the victim, according to investigators.

The victim - identified by police as Jeffrey Johnson - died from his injuries.

Johnson was leaving a nearby business in the 1800 block of State St. when Butler pulled up and opened fire as Johnson tried to take off, police said.

Officers said they later located the vehicle Butler used at a residence near E. 11th and Pennsylvania Ave. They set up a soft perimeter around the address but determined he had left on foot about 2.5 hours after showing up there following the shooting, according to the criminal complaint.

Police found a 9mm pistol with an empty magazine in the residence which matches the rounds fired at the scene of the homicide, according to investigators.

Both Butler and Johnson saw each other earlier in the day when they both went to a staffing agency to pick up a payroll check, according to the criminal complaint. A text message found on Johnson's phone and sent to his girlfriend also indicated he ran into Butler there, police said.

Johnson was previously arrested for an aggravated assault case where Butler was the victim, according to investigators.

Butler is being held in the Erie County Prison without bond.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 11.