New Haven, CT – The U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force, in collaboration with the Hartford Police Department and Connecticut State Police, arrested two men today, each wanted for murder charges stemming from separate incidents. The arrests mark a significant achievement for the task force and its ongoing efforts to address violent crimes.
On November 4, 2023, a fatal stabbing occurred around 605 Albany Avenue in Hartford, where a man succumbed to his injuries at Saint Francis Hospital despite efforts to save him. Following an investigation, Hartford Police issued an arrest warrant for 36-year-old Byron Williams of Hartford, charging him with murder. Williams was apprehended today at a residence on Cabot Street in Hartford by a coordinated effort of the Hartford Police Department, USMS Fugitive Task Force, and Connecticut State Police.
In another case, on December 9, 2023, the Williamsport Pennsylvania Police Department responded to a shooting on the 1000 block of Memorial Avenue in Williamsport. Jermaine Derick Mullen, 29, of Williamsport, was found with multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. Benjamin Villanueva, 33, of Connecticut, was identified as the shooter. Villanueva was captured today near 1600 Main Street in Hartford by the same joint task force. He faces charges as a fugitive from justice, pending extradition to Pennsylvania to answer to murder and parole violation charges.
Since its inception in 1999, the U.S. Marshals – Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force has made over 14,462 arrests as of February 9, 2024. The task force aims to locate and arrest violent fugitives and sexual predators, working in partnership with local police departments across Connecticut and national and international law enforcement agencies. These efforts have significantly contributed to public safety by addressing serious offenses, including murder, assault, and probation and parole violations.