A clumsy murder suspect inadvertently dropped through the ceiling of a Memphis home he was hiding in, right as U.S. Marshals were ransacking the property. Deario Wilkerson, 20, was sought in connection with an April shooting that left a man dead, according to a press release by the U.S. Marshals.
He was tracked by a fugitive task force to a home on North Merton Street near the crime scene. As local and federal authorities surrounded the residence on Monday, Wilkerson attempted to evade capture by hiding in the attic.
But, luck eluded him when he fell through the ceiling and landed near the kitchen sink during a search by authorities, according to the Marshals Service.
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Despite the dramatic tumble and a large hole in the drywall, Wilkerson was uninjured and was arrested without further incident. The arrest of Wilkerson concluded a months-long manhunt that began in May, following a first-degree murder warrant related to the April 2 killing of Troy Cunningham.
Cunningham’s body was discovered near the Cavalier Court Apartments in North Memphis after police responded to a disturbance call, according to the Shelby County District Attorney.
While responding to gunshots in the area, police discovered Cunningham’s body with a bullet wound in the back of his head near the intersection of Merton and Peres Avenue. Two suspects were already in custody for the killing.
Wilkerson, the last fugitive, was found hiding in a family member’s house when authorities located him, according to the New York Times.
The suspect is facing several charges including reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence, reckless driving, vehicle burglary, gun theft, and evading arrest.
He is held at Shelby County Jail on a $6 million bail and is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, according to jail records.
