Executive Summary
- U.S. Marshals arrested a 27-year-old suspect in Canton, Ohio, wanted for a double homicide.
- The shooting occurred on February 20 in Huntington, West Virginia, leaving two dead and one injured.
- Victims were identified as a city worker and a youth basketball coach.
- The suspect was reportedly on parole for previous violent felonies at the time of the incident.
U.S. Marshals have apprehended a 27-year-old fugitive in Canton, Ohio, who is sought by authorities in West Virginia on charges related to a fatal shooting that claimed two lives, according to federal law enforcement officials.
The arrest was executed in the 4600 block of Grandview Avenue NW, where agents successfully located the suspect. He has since been booked into the Stark County Jail. The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that the individual was wanted by authorities in Huntington, West Virginia, on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of malicious or unlawful assault with a firearm.
Authorities allege the charges stem from a violent altercation that occurred on February 20 in Huntington. According to investigators, the suspect was involved in a fight with a group of men which escalated into gunfire. Three individuals were struck during the incident; one victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while a second succumbed to injuries at a local hospital. A third victim survived the attack.
Officials identified the deceased victims as Adrian Phillips, 26, a city worker, and Derious Johnson, 39, a local youth basketball coach. U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott described the killings as senseless, noting the victims were taken from their families and communities abruptly. Records cited by law enforcement indicate the suspect was on parole at the time of the alleged offense, having been released from prison in November 2025 after serving a 10-year sentence for aggravated robbery and felonious assault.
Investigative Outlook
The swift apprehension of this suspect underscores the efficacy of federal and local inter-agency cooperation in tracking fugitives across state lines. With the suspect now secured in an Ohio facility, the procedural focus will shift toward extradition hearings to transfer custody to West Virginia jurisdiction. Given the suspect’s reported parole status during the alleged commission of these crimes, prosecutors may pursue enhanced sentencing measures if a conviction is secured. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
