A Youngstown Police Officer is being credited with doing the legwork needed to find a suspect in a cold case murder investigation.

Police Captain Jason Simon says it was Sgt. Jessica Sheilds who pursued a tip leading to Thursday’s secret indictment and arrest of 37-year-old Anthony Johnson for the 2019 shooting death of 33-year-old Reshaud Biggs Sr.

Biggs Sr. was the victim of a drive-by shooting along East Lucius Street and died later at St. Elizabeth Hospital.

The multi-count secret indictment handed up includes charges of aggravated murder, murder, improperly handling a firearm in a vehicle, and obstructing justice.

Johnson also faces criminal specifications accusing him of being a repeat violent offender and using firearms in the commission of a crime, all of which could bring more prison time if convicted.

Since Johnson has previous felony convictions, he was not legally permitted to have a firearm.

In 2007, Johnson was handed a ten-year prison term after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter, robbery, and kidnapping.

In 2021, Johnson was sentenced to five years in prison for a robbery conviction.  Because Johnson spent time in jail awaiting trial, the judge granted him credit for time served.

Johnson was released from prison earlier this month but remains on probation.

Captain Simon hopes Johnson’s arrest brings some closure to Biggs’ widow Kirstin, who also lost a son to gun violence.

In July 2021, Reshaud Biggs Jr. was only 17 years old when he was fatally shot outside of the Gateway Gas Mart on South Avenue near East Avondale Avenue.

This week a judge found 28-year-old Carlos Flores competent to stand trial in April for the murder of the younger Biggs.