An Ohio murder suspect on the run for almost two years was found and arrested in Morgantown on Tuesday.
Bryan Darshawn Esters, 33, was arrested by the US Marshals Service Mountain State Fugitive Task Force about 6:30 p.m. at an apartment on Cornell Avenue between Price and Naomi streets, according to Acting Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Terry Moore.
“It’s an outstanding feeling anytime you’re able to locate a fugitive that has been on the run that long,” Moore said. “It’s good for us and the public. He was definitely a danger for the community; he had a violent charge against him and a weapon in the residence where he was located. So, we feel we definitely took a danger off the streets.”
Esters was wanted by the Akron Police Department for aggravated murder and felonious assault, Moore said.
Dominique Thomas was shot three times by Andre Warren outside of Julian’s Restaurant on Pioneer Street, in Akron, on July 1, 2018, Moore said. Esters then allegedly shot Thomas four times at point-blank range in the back while he was on the ground. Thomas died at the scene of the shooting.
A second victim, 20, was also shot in the incident but survived, Moore said.
Warren was convicted of the shooting and sentenced to life in prison in April 2019.
U.S. Marshals received information that Esters was in Morgantown over the weekend which was forwarded to local deputy marshals who were able to pinpoint his location, Moore said.
Several hours of surveillance later, officers with the Morgantown Police Department and U.S. Marshals called Esters out of the residence to surrender, Moore said. A short time later, he did so without incident.
Esters was alone in the house, Moore said.
After Esters was arrested the Mon Metro Drug Task Force was contacted because narcotics and a handgun were found in the home, Moore said.
Task Force Commander Sgt. R. Jiles said various types of drugs and paraphernalia were found and the task force is investigating.
Esters was charged with fugitive from justice and is being held in North Central Regional Jail and will appear on those charges in Monongalia County before being extradited to Ohio, Moore said.
The U.S. Marshals consider any fugitive on the run for more than a year to be a cold case, Moore said. So, two years is considered a long time on the run.
“So, to finish it off is a good feeling for us,” he said.
