U.S. Marshals Arrest Homicide Suspect

Springfield, MO - Alfred C. Lomax, the United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri, announces the arrest of fugitive Gabriella R. Shields.

On September 23, 2015, investigators with the U.S. Marshals Service Middle Tennessee Joint Fugitive Task Force, along with the Putnam County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office located and arrested fugitive Gabriella R. Shields at a hotel in in Cookeville, Tennessee. Shields, 27, was charged on September 17, 2015, in Christian County, Missouri with one count of 1st Degree Murder, and one count of Armed Criminal Action. These charges stemmed from the shooting death of Christopher Younes, 35, of Marshfield in June 2014. The charges against Shields follow a joint criminal investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office.

A warrant was issued for Shields’ arrest on September 17, 2015. The search for Shields was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service-Southern Missouri Fugitive Task Force in conjunction with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office. Information was developed during the course the fugitive investigation which indicated that Shields was hiding at a hotel in Cookeville, Tennessee. Based upon this information the U.S. Marshals Service – Middle Tennessee Joint Fugitive Task Force responded to the hotel in Cookeville. Once there, officers located and arrested Shields without further incident.

Further inquiries regarding this arrest can be directed to Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal Darren Lane at (417) 851-5273.

The U.S. Marshals Service-Southern Missouri Fugitive Task Force is a team comprised of law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals Service, Christian County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Springfield Police Department, Joplin Police Department, Ash Grove Police Department, and the Nixa Police Department. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent fugitives and sexual predators.