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Three Homicide Suspects Wanted From Northern Ohio Arrested Within Hours

For immediate release

Anne Murphy, Public Affairs Officer

Northern District of Ohio
Cleveland, OH
(216) 276-7505

Cleveland, OH – Early this morning, members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) Akron Division traveled to Parkersburg, West Virginia and arrested Christopher Johnson, 30. 

Akron Police and the U.S. Marshals Service have been looking for Johnson since September 2017. Johnson is wanted for the September 19, 2017, shooting death of Brandon Belleville.  Johnson and three accomplices broke into the victim’s home in the 600 block of Minerva Place and shot and killed Belleville.  The three accomplices, Quincy Chatman, Harold Burros and Lamarr Jackson, were all arrested and have been convicted in Belleville’s death. Over the past 5 years the NOVFTF, Akron Police and FBI have worked to gather information on Johnson’s whereabouts.  This morning, acting on new information, the task force traveled to Parkersburg and arrested Johnson at an apartment building in the 1900 block of 27th St. A firearm was also recovered during the arrest.  Johnson will remain in custody in Parkersburg until he can be extradited back to Summit County. 

Additionally, members of the Cleveland Division of the NOVFTF arrested Christian West, 27.  West was wanted by Garfield Heights Police Department for the April 15th shooting death of Devonte Brown.  Brown was shot outside of a Dollar General on Turney Rd. in Garfield Heights.  West and an accomplice, who has already been taken into custody, shot the victim and then stole his vehicle.  Today, members of the task force were able to locate West and take him into custody without incident.  West was arrested in a home in the 4600 block of Donovan Dr. in Garfield Heights, only a mile away from where the homicide occurred. 

Later in the morning, members of the task force arrested Shaniqua Menefee, 34.  Menefee was wanted by Cleveland Division of Police for a homicide.  According to police, in the early hours of Sunday morning Menefee ran over a man with her vehicle.  When police and EMS responded, the male victim was still pinned under the car.  The incident occurred in the area of East 155th St. and Glendale Ave.  Menefee was arrested without incident at an apartment in the 7000 block of Broadway Ave. in Cleveland. 

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “These three senseless acts of violence have left members of our community without their family.  Hopefully the healing process starts for all these families knowing these suspects are now behind bars.”

Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous.  Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland.  

The NOVFTF Akron Division consists of the following federal, state and local agencies: the United States Marshals Service, Akron Police Department, Barberton Police Department, Bath Township Police Department, Copley Township Police Department, Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, Fairlawn Police Department, Hudson Police Department, Kent Police Department, New Franklin Police Department, Norton Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Reminderville Police Department, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Tallmadge Police Department, United States Secret Service, University of Akron Police Department, Wayne County Court of Common Pleas.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies:  U.S. Marshals Service, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Euclid Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Independence Police Department, Parma Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Solon Police Department, Cleveland RTA Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Middleburg Heights Police Department, Newburgh Heights Police Department and the Metrohealth Police Department.

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

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