Armed Homicide Suspect Arrested in the Tampa Bay Area

Tampa, FL - A man wanted for Federal Probation Violation out the District of West Virginia, Charleston was arrested in Wesley Chapel Florida. On November 17, 2007, the U.S. Marshals Tampa Bay Area Fugitive Task Force (TBAFTF) coordinated with the, Pasco County Sheriff’s Department based on a leads sent from the U.S. Marshals Service in West Virginia helped located the fugitive in the Wesley Chapel Florida area. The combined efforts of Law Enforcement lead to the arrest of the fugitive around 12:15 AM Sunday Morning, November 18, 2007.

Matthew Paul Morris, 35 years old, was wanted for Federal Probation Violation for prior convictions of Bank Robbery, Narcotics charges, and Weapons Possession charges. Morris is the number one suspect in a recent murder in Okeechobee County. Morris is currently out on Bond after being arrested by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and charged with two counts of Assault with the intent to Kill, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Failure to Stop.

Members of the Task Force tracked Morris to a residence in Wesley Chapel Florida. Morris was arrested without incident at the residence. Morris was in possession of a 9mm Glock handgun, AK-47 Assault rifle, and narcotics. It later was discovered that the residence housed Latin King Gang members. Additionally, a Tech-9 machine gun was located with four large capacity magazines, and to include bomb making materials. The Alcohol Tobacco Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Agent and the Pasco County Narcotics team respond to the residence. Morris will more than like will face additional charges.

The U.S. Marshals Tampa Bay Area Fugitive Task Force is made up of Federal, State and Local law enforcement officers. The members of the Task Force combine resources and efforts daily to track down violent fugitives of Justice in the Tampa Bay Area and Nation Wide through networking with Task Forces across the country.

For more information about the U.S. Marshals Service, visit http://www.usmarshals.gov.

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