A murder suspect was caught in Memphis after falling through a ceiling while attempting to hide from police during a search.
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According to a press release by the U.S. Marshals Service, murder suspect Deario Wilkerson fell through the ceiling from the attic space where he was hiding. Wilkerson has been accused of fatally shooting Troy Cunningham at the 1500 block of N. Merton Street in Memphis, Tennessee on April 2.
On May 9, the U.S. Marshals issued an arrest warrant for Wilkerson, with first-degree murder and reckless endangerment-deadly weapon charges.
The case was notably adopted for a fugitive investigation by the U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) in Memphis.
Months after the warrant was issued, the TRVFTF had managed to track Wilkerson to a residence in the 1400 block of N. Merton of Memphis. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Memphis Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Teams assisted deputy marshals in the search.
While authorities surrounded the residence, Wilkerson attempted to hide in the attic. However, amid the search, he fell through the ceiling. The uninjured man was then arrested and taken into custody.
The U.S. Marshals Services in Memphis announced the arrest on X (formerly Twitter) and shared photos of the scene.
“Memphis murder fugitive, Deario Wilkerson, tried to hide in the attic,” the post reads. “He was captured by U.S. Marshals after he fell through the ceiling.”
Deario Wilkerson Was One of Three Suspects in the Murder of Troy Cunningham
Wilkerson was one of three people suspects of being involved in Cunningham’s murder. The two other suspects, Jarisu Hibbler and Tamarius Barron, were arrested in early May.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office previously revealed that Cunningham was discovered on the sidewalk near Peres and Merton Street. He sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the back of the head while attempting to run from the suspects.
In addition to Cunningham’s death, during the incident, gunfire struck the vehicle of two female victims traveling westbound on Peres Avenue. One of the women sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
Hibbler, who was charged with first-degree murder in early May, was identified as making Cunningham raise his hands in the air. He also took property from Cunningham before shooting at the victim as he was running away from the suspects.
Hibbler was the first of the suspects to be charged in connection with Cunningham’s murder. He also remained in custody with a $3 million bond.