For the past three months, Memphis law enforcement had been searching for a suspect in a deadly shooting, a case that had gripped the downtown area. The victim, found shot to death in his home on North Merton Street, was allegedly killed with his own firearm, according to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office. Authorities believe the suspect stole the gun and shot the man in the back of the head as he attempted to flee. The investigation led to the identification of 20-year-old Deario Wilkerson as one of three potential suspects, prompting the U.S. Marshals to issue an arrest warrant for first-degree murder and reckless endangerment.
After weeks of searching, authorities finally tracked down Wilkerson on Monday at a home on the same street where the shooting occurred, according to FOX 13 Memphis. The operation to apprehend Wilkerson involved a coordinated effort between Deputy U.S. Marshals, officers from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and the Memphis Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Team. As they surrounded the house, it became clear that Wilkerson was hiding inside, specifically in the attic, where he had hoped to evade capture.
In a dramatic turn of events, Wilkerson’s hiding place was revealed when he fell through the ceiling, crashing into the kitchen below. The U.S. Marshals reported that the 150-pound suspect dropped straight from the attic into the hands of waiting officers, who arrested him without injury. Wilkerson was subsequently booked into Shelby County Jail, where he is being held on a bond exceeding $6 million. His next court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, August 29.
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