Police arrested a suspect last night in the fatal shooting of a municipal employee who was shot outside his mother's West Baltimore home.

Detective Michael Hammel said Tyrone Johnson, 45, of the 2700 block of Rayner Ave., a Department of Public Works employee, was about to enter the house in the 1500 block of N. Stricker St. about 8: 43 p.m. Saturday when a bullet struck the left side of his head.

Hammel said the bullet came from the 1300 block of North Stricker and was fired by a gunman who had shot several times at another man.

Hammel said Johnson died at 1: 30 a.m. yesterday at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

He said the suspect was taken into custody about 9 p.m. in the 900 block of N. Calhoun St. by a Western District police officer, who received information from an area resident. The suspect was being interviewed at police headquarters and could be charged today with first-degree murder, Hammel said.

Hammel said the gunman was chasing his intended victim down the street and shot him in the leg. Hammel said that man, whose name he declined to reveal because he is a witness, was treated at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Pub Date: 6/15/98