FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: |
April 8, 2008 |
Justin Vickers, Supervisory Inspector
228-224-1008 |
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Moss Point Murder Suspect arrested in
Tampa, Florida |
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A Moss Point man’s run from the law
ended Monday afternoon when he was arrested by members of the U.S.
Marshal’s Tampa Bay Area Fugitive Task Force.
Tony M. Howard Jr., 22 years of age, was wanted for the February 16,
2008 murder of Lorenzo Nettles at the “Touch of Class” night club in
Moss Point. Since the murder, Howard has been featured in local
media outlets as one of the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s Most Wanted and
on the U.S Marshals website. This media attention led to an
anonymous tip to the U.S. Marshals indicating that Howard might be
in the Tampa area. Investigators in the Tampa area canvassed the
streets and eventually developed an address where Howard was hiding
out. As police approached the apartment, Howard leapt from a second
floor window and was arrested after a brief foot chase.
Nehemiah Flowers, Jr., U. S. Marshal for the Southern District of
Mississippi, was quoted as saying “Once again, the long arm of the
law has grabbed a man who thought he could run from justice. Now,
this fugitive will have his day in court, and hopefully this arrest
will bring some peace to the victim’s family”.
The Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force is headquartered in
Birmingham, AL, and has offices in Gulfport, Jackson, and Oxford,
Mississippi. The Gulfport office is comprised of Deputy U.S.
Marshals and officers from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office,
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Biloxi Police Department, and
the Gulfport Police Department. The objective of the task force is
to seek out and arrest fugitives wanted for violent crimes, sex
offenses, weapons related or drug offenses. Additional information
about the U. S. Marshals and its fugitive apprehension mission can
be found at www.usmarshals.gov
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