MEMPHIS, TN – Deario Wilkerson, a 20-year-old murder suspect, was apprehended by U.S. Marshals earlier this week after avoiding capture for several months. His attempted hideout in an attic did not end well, as he fell through the ceiling and right into the hands of law enforcement.
Wilkerson had been on the run since May 9, when a warrant was issued for his arrest. The charges stemmed from the April 2021 shooting death of another man, Troy Cunningham, in Memphis, Tennessee, according to a statement from the U.S. Marshals.
The U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) took over the fugitive investigation. On August 26, they traced Wilkerson to a residence within blocks of where the initial murder took place.
In collaboration with local law enforcement agencies, deputy marshals surrounded the home. Wilkerson, in an attempt to remain hidden, scurried into the attic. However, just as the U.S. Marshals combed through the residence, Wilkerson fell through the attic ceiling.
The Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force, a multi-agency initiative in Western Tennessee, has apprehended over 2,600 violent fugitives and sexual predators since its establishment in 2021. The force includes constituents from various law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Marshals, Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents, and officers from Shelby, Fayette, and Tipton County Sheriff’s Departments, among others.
Wilkerson was unharmed from the fall and was subsequently detained without further incident.