Dramatic Arrest: Murder Suspect Falls Through Ceiling as Feds Search Home
August 28, 2024
TENNESSEE: In a shocking turn of events, a Tennessee murder suspect was caught after falling through the ceiling of a home where he was hiding from federal authorities. Deario Wilkerson, 20, was arrested on Monday by the U.S. Marshals Service at a Memphis home, just a block away from the scene of the fatal shooting he is accused of participating in.
Wilkerson had been hiding in the attic of the home when he broke through the drywall ceiling above the kitchen, landing in the room below. He was quickly apprehended by a task force of deputy marshals and local law enforcement officers from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office and Memphis Police Department's Fugitive Apprehension teams.
The suspect is accused of participating in the fatal shooting of Troy Cunningham, 27, on April 2, after a fight over a pistol. Cunningham was found on a sidewalk with a fatal gunshot wound to the back of his head. According to authorities, the shooting occurred after three men took Cunningham's pistol and then shot at him as he tried to escape.
Wilkerson's dramatic arrest brings an end to a months-long search for the suspect, who was wanted on charges of first-degree murder and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. Two other men have already been arrested in connection with the shooting, including one who allegedly took Cunningham's gun and shot at him as he ran away.
The U.S. Marshals Service has praised the collaborative effort of local law enforcement agencies in bringing Wilkerson to justice.
Wilkerson's arrest is also notable due to his previous run-ins with the law. In May 2023, he was among three arrested in connection with a series of Memphis burglaries and vehicle thefts dating back to January 2021.
