Wilson Borough police on Friday identified the suspect in Wednesday’s killing of 28-year-old Dennis Hodge Jr.
Calvin B. Brown Jr., 26, is wanted under a warrant charging him with homicide, police announced in a news release.
Brown has ties to the Easton area and New York City. Investigators asked anyone with information on his whereabouts to call Wilson police via the Northampton County 911 center non-emergency number at 610-759-2200.
Brown is accused of punching Hodge shortly before 9:45 p.m. outside the P&J Apartments building at 914 S. 25th St. where they both lived.
Hodge fell to the ground, suffering fatal head trauma, and he was pronounced dead about a half-hour later at Easton Hospital. Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek ruled the death a homicide.
A witness to the assault told police "when Hodge hit his head on the ground it sounded like a baseball bat hitting a baseball," police Detective Jason Hillis wrote in court records.
Brown fled the scene in a black Honda. He is described as black with black hair and brown eyes and standing 6 feet tall with a thin build, weighing 180 pounds.
Investigators spoke with another resident of P&J, Cindy Golson, who relayed that she heard an argument involving Brown outside of the apartment they shared, police Chief Chris Meehan says in Friday's news release.
"Shortly after, Brown returned to the apartment and told her he was leaving and took her vehicle," Meehan wrote. "Later that night, Brown called and text messaged Golson telling her 'he f----- up,' 'he didn’t did not even hit him that hard' and 'she should pray for him.'"
Hodge’s girlfriend told lehighvalleylive.com on Friday that the argument had stemmed from rumors about the suspect’s girlfriend, identified as Golson. Hodge had tried talking to the suspect to clear things up in the hours before the fatal assault, according to Hodge’s girlfriend.
"He didn't know it was coming," Hodge's girlfriend said of the punch.
Brown faces a single count of homicide.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.