A 19-year-old New London man who was on the run from police for four months after he allegedly took part in the November 2011 shooting death of Jorge “Loco” Rosa finally has an attorney.

Davion Smith, arrested in March, has appeared in New London Superior Court nine times without legal representation. During his first several appearances, he said his family was trying to hire a private attorney for him. Recently, he said he could not afford an attorney and would like to apply for a public defender.

During Smith’s court appearance this morning, Chief Public Defender Bruce A. Sturman said Smith qualified for a court-appointed attorney and asked the judge to appoint Old Saybrook attorney Jeremiah Donovan. Judge Patrick J. Clifford appointed Donovan and continued the case to Thursday, when Smith is expected to meet Donovan.

Smith and 20-year-old Evan J. Holmes, both of New London, are accused of breaking into an apartment at 252 Montauk Ave. on Nov. 12, 2011 and confronting Rosa, who was sleeping in bed with his girlfriend.

Rosa's girlfriend said she and Rosa woke at about 4 a.m. to find Holmes and Smith standing at the end of the bed with guns. The girlfriend said Holmes shot Rosa two or three times before the two men fled.

Holmes was arrested about six hours after the shooting at the Days Inn in Old Saybrook. Smith was at large until March 20, when he was arrested at a relative’s apartment in New London.

Both men are being held in prison on charges of murder, first-degree home invasion and first-degree burglary. Holmes has waived a probable cause hearing in which the state would have to prove it has enough evidence to prosecute him for a crime that carries a life sentence. Now that Smith has an attorney, he will be asked to tell the court whether he wants such a hearing.