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Williamsport, PA - U.S. Marshal
Michael R. Regan and Williamsport Police Chief Gregory Foresman
announced today that murder fugitive Riccheem Barker surrendered to U.S.
Marshals and Williamsport Bureau of Police detectives in Newark, New
Jersey.
Barker was being sought on an arrest warrant signed by Magisterial
District Judge Jerry C. Lepley in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania.
On July 13, the Williamsport Bureau of Police responded to 432 Glenwood
Avenue on the report of a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, local officers
found the female victim, who had a gunshot wound to her neck and was
unconscious. The victim, Olletta Mashonda Alford, was transported to a
local hospital, and then life-flighted to the Geisinger Medical Center
in Danville. She was placed on life support, and died from her injuries
on July 21. The crime scene investigation revealed that a disturbance
had occurred at Apartment 2E. The attacker fled the scene prior to the
arrival of law enforcement personnel.
The Williamsport Bureau of Police obtained an arrest warrant against
Barker, charging him with:
- one count of Criminal Homicide
- two counts of Aggravated Assault
- two counts of Simple Assault
- one count of Illegal Possession and Use of a Firearm
- one count of Carrying a Firearm without a License
- one count of Possession of an Instrument of Crime
On July 14, the Williamsport Bureau of Police requested the assistance
of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) to locate and apprehend Barker. This
murder fugitive case was adopted as part of the U.S. Marshals Service’s
Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and was
given the highest priority.
U.S. Marshals in Williamsport developed information that Barker fled the
Lycoming County area shortly after the shooting. Investigative leads
were sent to the U.S. Marshals Service’s New York/New Jersey Regional
Fugitive Task Force (NY/NJ RFTF). For two months, U.S. Marshals and the
Williamsport Bureau of Police developed and investigated numerous leads
in Williamsport and Newark.
Within the past 10 days, Williamsport-based U.S. Marshals and members of
its Middle District of Pennsylvania (M/PA) Fugitive Task Force traveled
to Newark to work directly with their USMS counterparts. Teams fanned
out in Newark to conduct coordinated, simultaneous investigations and
follow-ups. This strategy led to an open dialogue with several
associates of Barker and, ultimately, a direct line of communication
when the fugitive made contact by telephone with the lead investigator
from the Williamsport Bureau of Police.
During the early afternoon hours of September 28, Barker surrendered to
law enforcement authorities at his mother’s residence in Newark. Barker
surrendered to detectives from the Williamsport Bureau of Police and
personnel from the U.S. Marshal Service’s NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task
Force.
Barker, 27 years of age, was taken to Newark Police Department, where he
was processed and charged as a fugitive from justice. He is being held
without bail, pending an extradition hearing.
U.S. Marshals and task force members from the Northumberland County
Adult Probation Office, assisted by officers from the Williamsport
Bureau of Police, were relentless in their search for Barker. This
cooperative effort led to the timely and safe arrest of Barker.
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at
http://www.usmarshals.gov.
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