Gino Booker, a 34-year-old African American man, was murdered in Cincinnati, Ohio. His death was one of several homicides prosecutors say were connected to a series of violent crimes carried out by Angelo Howard. Howard was indicted on aggravated murder and aggravated robbery charges in Booker’s death, along with charges tied to other killings that the prosecution linked to the same pattern of criminal activity.

Howard’s trial in Hamilton County included testimony from witnesses who were compensated by the state for their statements. The defense argued the court improperly joined multiple charges and raised claims of ineffective assistance of counsel and unreliable witness testimony. Despite those arguments, Howard was convicted on all counts related to Booker’s murder and received life imprisonment; the appellate court upheld most of those convictions.

Anyone who knew Booker or has information about the events leading to his death is asked to come forward.