U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Puerto Rico Murder Suspect in Cleveland

Cleveland, OH – Yesterday, members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) arrested Neftali Esquilin-Lebron, 24. Esquilin-Lebron was wanted by the Puerto Rico Police Bureau – Humacao Criminal Investigation Corps for murder.

According to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, a man was shot multiple times in front of a restaurant in Las Piedras on July 21, 2024. The man ultimately succumbed to his gunshot wounds, and a homicide investigation ensued. Through the course of the investigation, Esquilin-Lebron was identified as the suspect in this deadly shooting and a warrant was issued for his arrest on May 27, 2025.

Investigators from the Puerto Rican Police Bureau determined that at some point after the incident, Esquilin-Lebron had fled Puerto Rico and was likely residing in northeast Ohio. Late yesterday afternoon, members of our Cleveland NOVFTF arrested Esquilin-Lebron at an establishment near the 2700 block of E. 55th Street in Cleveland, Ohio.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Violent fugitives will never be welcome to hide out in our communities in northern Ohio. Our fugitive task force has always and will continue to pursue these suspects to protect our communities and to bring justice to the wronged victims of these senseless killings.”

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 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.