Murder Suspect Caught by U.S. Marshals Task Force

Memphis, TN – An alleged murderer was brought to justice yesterday by the U.S. Marshals Task Force.

On 09/22/15 an arrest warrant issued by Shelby County for 1st Degree Murder for Courtney Crutcher. It is alleged that on 09/02/15 he killed Ralph Martin and injured Jeremiah Isom with a handgun. This occurred in the 2400 block of Chelsea Avenue.

Investigators with the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force were assigned to apprehend the fugitive. The fugitive was tracked to Chattanooga, TN where he was staying in a motel. He was taken into custody by members of the U.S. Marshals Smokey Mountain Regional Fugitive Task Force.

At the time of this press release he remains in custody in Chattanooga awaiting extradition back to Shelby County.

The U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force with divisions in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The Western Tennessee Division of the GCRFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis Police Officers, Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies, Jackson Police Officers, and the Tennessee Department of Corrections Special Agents. The primary mission of the Task Force is to arrest violent offenders and sexual predators.

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.