U.S. Marshals Task Force Tracks Down Wooster Police Murder Suspect in Mississippi

Akron, OH – The U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) Akron Division and the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force (GCRFTF) arrested Lashaun Reed, age 23. Reed was wanted by the Wooster, Ohio Police Department on charges of murder.

Reed’s charges stem from the shooting death of Clifford Johnson, 21, of Wooster, that occurred on the evening of December 10, 2011. Johnson was shot in the back in a front yard of a residence on E. North St. in Wooster. At the time of the murder Reed was on bond awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to felonious assault and assault charges. Those charges stem from a June 12, 2011 stabbing of two individuals in the 600 block of N. Buckeye St. in Wooster, OH.

In December 2011, directly after the incident, the Wooster Police Department referred the case to the NOVFTF for assistance with locating and apprehending Reed. The NOVFTF Akron and Richland County Divisions along with the Wooster Police Department spent numerous man hours on this case over the course of their investigation. When it was determined that Reed was believed to be in Mississippi, the NOVFTF requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals GCRFTF.

Earlier today, GCRFTF Task Force Officers spotted Reed in the 400 Block of Inez St. Greenville, MS. Task Force Officers conducted surveillance of the area until back up arrived. At approximately 4:00 p.m. today, Task Force Officers along with Officers of the Greenville Police Department jumped into action and apprehended Reed who was found hiding in a closet. Reed was arrested at a boarding house on the 400 block of Inez St, where he was renting a room. Reed was apprehended without incident, and transported to the Greenville Police Department Jail, Greenville, Mississippi. Reed is awaiting an extradition hearing to return back to Ohio to answer his charges.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Great job by our investigators in Ohio and by the officers in Mississippi, working together to locate and safely apprehend this dangerous fugitive. This is a fine example of what we can accomplish working with our fugitive task force network across the nation.”

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a known fugitive is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at: 1-866-4-WANTED or text keyword WANTED and the tip to 847411(tip411). Tipsters may remain anonymous and a cash reward may be available. The Task Force’s “Dangerous Dozen” fugitives can be viewed at http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/fugitives/pdf/dangerous_dozen.pdf, which is updated monthly.

The NOVFTF Akron Division consists of the following federal, state and local agencies: Akron Police Department, Barberton Police Department, Bath Township Police Department Boston Heights Village Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Copley Township Police Department, Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hinckley Police Department, Kent Police Department, Medina Police Department, Montville Township Police Department, New Franklin Police Department, Northfield Village Police Department, Norton Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Portage County Prosecutor’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Ravenna Police Department, Reminderville Police Department, Stow Police Department, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Twinsburg Police Department, United States Marshals Service, United States Secret Service, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, University of Akron Police Department, Wadsworth Police Department.