WILLIMANTIC, CT – U.S. Marshals on Thursday captured a Puerto Rican man in Willimantic, Connecticut, who was wanted for allegedly shooting and killing a man in Massachusetts last December.
Lee George-Maldonado, 28, faces multiple charges in Fall River, Massachusetts, including murder, carrying a firearm without a license, attempting to commit a crime, kidnapping with a firearm, and two counts of attempted assault with a firearm. Additionally, he has domestic violence charges pending in Puerto Rico.
The investigation into the death of 44-year-old Juan Castro began after he was found dead outside his home on Bank Street on Dec. 23, 2023. Detectives from the Fall River Police Department led the inquiry, which culminated in a warrant for George-Maldonado’s arrest issued on May 17.
The U.S. Marshals Service was enlisted to locate and apprehend George-Maldonado. Their Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force tracked him to a residence in Willimantic, where he was arrested with the assistance of SWAT members from the Willimantic Police Department.
George-Maldonado is currently detained, awaiting extradition to Massachusetts to face the charges against him. The Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force comprises multiple agencies, including police departments from Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Waterbury, in addition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Since its inception in 1999, the task force has been instrumental in apprehending violent fugitives and sexual predators. Their efforts have led to numerous arrests for crimes such as murder, assault, and probation violations.