Homicide Suspect Captured After Four Years in Hiding

Norfolk, VA – Deputy Marshals and Norfolk Fugitive Detectives have brought a four-year manhunt that spanned several states to an end. 25-year-old Montrell Davis, aka “Lil Trell,” was arrested in Norfolk on Monday around 10:30 a.m.

On October 11, 2011, Davis was charged with second degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. These charges stem from a fatal shooting that occurred on August 25, 2011. A 19-year-old man was shot during the incident and died six days later.

For several years, it was believed that Davis was staying with family outside of Virginia, but he could not be found. The investigation into Davis’ whereabouts gained significant momentum when Deputy Marshals and Norfolk Fugitive Detectives learned that Davis had returned to Norfolk sometime over the summer. Further investigation revealed Davis was staying with family, but the wanted fugitive supposedly never came outside during the day.

Deputy Marshals and Norfolk Fugitive Detectives were able to narrow down all possible family members Davis could be hiding with. After conducting a lengthy review of the Davis family tree, investigators used the process of elimination to find the specific family member Davis was currently living with. On the morning of October 12, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force confirmed Davis was staying with family at an apartment in the 600 block of Warwick Avenue. A Norfolk Canine Unit assisted Deputy Marshals and Norfolk Fugitive Detectives with the arrest. Davis was taken into custody without incident.

“Persistence pays off,” said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal John Bolen. “Four years and one day after his arrest warrants were issued a homicide suspect is finally off the streets due to the commitment of our fugitive task force.”

Davis is currently being held at Norfolk City Jail.

The U.S. Marshals-led Fugitive Task Force consists of law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals, Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office, Newport News Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department and Norfolk Police Department. The main objective of the task force is to seek out and arrest violent offenders with outstanding federal and state warrants.

The U.S. Marshals Service, America’s oldest federal law enforcement agency, arrested more than 33,700 federal fugitives, 71,000 state and local fugitives and 11,600 sex offenders in 2014. Our investigative network and capabilities allow for the unique ability to track and apprehend any fugitive who attempts to evade police capture, anywhere in the country.