Arnold Howard was a close friend of Mumia Abu-Jamal at the time the events surrounding Jamal's arrest in the killing of PPD Officer David Faulkner, an early subject of interest in PPD investigations surrounding Faulkner's homicide, and a key figure in the ensuing legal proceedings surrounding Jamal's conviction and death sentence for Faulkner's murder.

Biographical sketch

Early life and relationship with Abu-Jamal

Arnold Howard was already friend and political confidant of Jamal's at the time of Faulkner's killing; he has said that he had Jamal had "gang warred together," and that they were both members of the Black Panther Party in "about 69 or 70." .

Criminal background

Howard is convicted a felon, having participated in several matters of fraud and burglary.

Involvement in the Jamal case

December 9, 1981

Howard himself was not present at the scene on Locust St.; his association to the Faulkner case arises from the fact that a duplicate driver's license application of his was found in officer Faulkner's shirt pocket sometime while he was being tended to after his shooting. Shortly thereafter (in the early morning hours of December 9) he was to receive a visit at his residence (his mother's house) from the PPD (by Howard's account, he was roused from his sleep), and was brought to the Police Administration Building for questioning.
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See also

Trial of Mumia Abu-Jamal

William Cook

Kenneth Freeman