Pennsylvania Shootout Ends In Death Of Musician's Accused Killer

PINELLAS PARK, FL – A manhunt for the accused killer of a Pinellas Park woman has ended in a shootout in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Law enforcement agencies tracked Siddeeq Ma'Shooq, 45, also known as Steven Brooks, through five states after he escaped a standoff with the U.S. Marshals Service Wednesday night, April 11 (see related story).

Pinellas Park Police say Ma'Shooq fled to Madison County, Alabama, after shooting St. Petersburg resident and musician Caroline Morton Hicks, 59, on Feb. 12. The U.S. Marshals Service say Ma'Shooq had a girlfriend living in Harvest, Alabama. He stayed with his girlfriend and elderly couple who were apparently unaware of the manhunt for Ma'Shooq.

When marshals tracked Ma’Shooq down in Alabama, he took the elderly couple hostage. He released them unharmed after lighting their car on fire to distract marshals so could make his getaway. Marshals said he stole a car and drove to a swampy area where he abandoned vehicle and ran into the woods, successfully evading marshals. He then reportedly stole a Silverado pickup truck and made his way to Pennsylvania.

Twenty-six hours later, Pennsylvania State Police spotted Ma'Shooq in in the early-morning hours of April 13. He was driving the pickup truck erratically, Pennsylvania State Police Capt. Joseph Ruggery said in a press conference Friday. Troopers tried to pull him over but he fled, leading to a high-speed chase down Interstate 70 that ended when Ma'Shooq crashed into a bridge abutment. Ruggery said Ma'Shooq then fled on foot carrying a stolen .40-caliber Beretta handgun loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition. Troopers pursued him down a steep embankment, ordering him to drop his gun. Ma'Shooq turned toward them holding the gun in front of him and troopers fired several rounds at him. Ma'Shooq died at the scene.

Ma’Shooq was wanted for killing Morton Hicks on Feb. 12, around 9:55 p.m. after she left a rehearsal for the Pinellas Park Civic Orchestra in which she played the trombone.

Police say Morton Hicks owned several rental properties and was Ma'Shooq's landlord. He approached Morton Hicks in the parking lot of 4951 78th Ave. N. after the orchestra rehearsal where they argued about him being late with his rent payment. Ma’Shooq apparently pulled out a gun during the argument. Morton Hicks ran but Ma’Shooq shot and killed her.

During a press conference Friday, Police Chief Michael Haworth laid out the evidence collected by detectives that led to Ma'Shooq emerging as the prime suspect in the crime.

Among the evidence is a video showing Ma'Shooq running away from Morton Hicks' car after he stole it, dumped it in a parking lot at Park Plaza and then tried to set it on fire. A photo of the car's interior shows a gas can and rag used to start the fire that burned itself out.

Image via Pinellas Park Civic Orchestra