For Immediate Release

Jesse Seroyer, U.S. Marshal
Middle District of Alabama (334) 223-7401
USMS Headquarters Public Affairs (202) 307-9065

After an intense investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, Montgomery office arrested two brothers and a cousin suspected of the Tuesday March 10 shooting death of Cortavius Roberts in Shorter, AL.  Kemond J. Fortson and Kittrell A. Fortson surrendered to investigators from the U.S. Marshals Service, Alabama Bureau of Investigation, and the Montgomery Police Department yesterday. Today, investigators from the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested 17 year old Lorenzo T. Fortson in Montgomery.

On Tuesday, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI), the Shorter Police Department and the Macon County Sheriff’s office where able to develop Kemond Fortson as a suspect. By Wednesday, the ABI had developed Kemond Fortson’s brother Lorenzo Fortson and their cousin Kittrell Fortson as additional suspects. “The Alabama Bureau of Investigation reached out to us on Tuesday for our assistance to help locate these individuals,” said U.S. Marshal Jesse Seroyer Jr. “This was a brazen and very violent day light murder that placed the public in great danger.” “This case was a priority for us and if it had not been for the quick response by the Shorter Police Department and the Macon County Sheriffs office this could have been much worse,” stated U.S. Marshal Jesse Seroyer Jr.

“Our Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force was created in 2006, and I’m proud to say that it’s working as we had planned. We are able to get critical information regarding fugitives from first responder agencies and departments in a timely manner so that we can provide immediate assistance. Fugitives can no longer rely on the added barriers of distance or lack communication between agencies to give them a head start,” Marshal Seroyer added.

The Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force is a team comprised of U.S. Marshals and state and local law enforcement officers in Alabama and Mississippi. The task force objective is to seek out and arrest fugitives wanted for crimes of violence and any charges involving sexual offenses. The United States Marshals Service arrested 23,000 fugitives last year.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.