U.S. Marshals Task Force Captures Murder Suspect in Blue Angel Lane Shooting

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For Immediate Release	Contact:
June 02, 2009	Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force - Pensacola Dominic Guadagnoli, Public Affairs Officer (850) 554-6602; USMS Headquarters Public Affairs (202) 307-9065

U.S. Marshals Task Force Captures Murder Suspect in Blue Angel Lane Shooting

Pensacola, FL – Working on information developed from Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators, the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force captured Wendell Ray Hurley who is wanted for the Sunday morning murder of Timothy Thames of Blue Angel Lane. According to reports, Hurley allegedly broke into the home around 5:30 a.m. and shot Thames, 40, two times with what was believed to be a .380 caliber handgun before fleeing the home. There was reportedly a second suspect with him whom the sheriff’s office investigators have questioned as well. Around noon today the Task Force and apprehended Hurley without incident while he slept in a house located on the 1200 block of Tamara Drive in Pensacola. Investigators found a .380 caliber handgun in the bed where he was sleeping but it is unknown whether or not if it is the murder weapon. The Marshals were assisted by task force officers from Escambia and Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Offices, Pensacola Police Department and FDLE as well as a K9 Unit from Escambia County.

“The Escambia investigators and patrol deputies worked hard and fast to identify him (Hurley),” said Task Force Coordinator Dominic Guadagnoli. “They worked even harder to find him and we were glad to help capture him,” said Guadagnoli.

Hurley’s charges include Homicide, Armed Home Invasion, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony. Hurley is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.

The 23 year-old Hurley is the Marshals Florida Regional Task Force’s fourth Homicide arrest within less than a week. The Marshals Task Force Office in Tallahassee arrested two suspects and one was arrested by Task Force members in Panama City last Friday.

The Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force in Pensacola is comprised of officers from the U.S. Marshals Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Offices, Milton, Pensacola, Ft. Walton Beach and Niceville Police Departments.

Last Year U.S. Marshals Task Forces around the country arrested over 73,000 state and local fugitive felons and more than 109,000 between both state and federal warrants.