Akron murder suspect caught walking along Atlanta highway with gun in reach
Akron, OH — A man wanted for a deadly October shooting in Akron was arrested Tuesday after U.S. Marshals found him walking along a highway in Atlanta with a gun on him, ending a multi-state manhunt that began nearly three weeks ago.
Travonte D. Griffin, 37, was taken into custody by the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, led by the U.S. Marshals Service, after investigators tracked him from Ohio to Georgia. Griffin had been wanted in connection with the October 15 killing of 31-year-old Damere T. Boddie, who was shot on Mohawk Avenue in Akron and later died at the hospital.
Griffin, already on federal probation for prior weapons offenses, had a warrant issued for his arrest shortly after the shooting. A separate federal warrant was also filed in the Northern District of Ohio following the murder charge.
Following the issuance of the warrants, the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) launched an extensive search. Intelligence developed by Ohio investigators pointed to Griffin fleeing Akron and heading to Atlanta. Once that information was relayed to authorities in Georgia, Marshals located Griffin on foot near a highway. He was taken into custody without resistance, though a firearm was found in his possession at the time of arrest.
Griffin is being held locally in Georgia while arrangements are made to extradite him back to Ohio, where he will face murder and federal violation charges.
No additional suspects have been named in connection to the shooting.
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Key Points
- Travonte Griffin arrested in Atlanta for October 15 murder in Akron
- U.S. Marshals tracked Griffin across state lines; firearm recovered at arrest
- Griffin to be extradited back to Ohio to face murder and federal probation violation charges