A fugitive from Houston wanted in connection with two homicide investigations was taken into custody following a standoff at an Opelousas apartment complex.
The Opleousas Police Department says that Gerald Washington was taken into custody overnight by the U.S. Marshal's Office.
Investigators were alerted on Tuesday, February 2, that Washington was in Opelousas at the Down's Apartment complex in the 1900 block of Creswell Lane.
Police say that the unit where Washington was attempting to hide belonged to a friend and also had children inside. Due to the nature of the circumstances, police say every resource was used to end the standoff safely.
The children were not injured in the incident, they say.
Police say that Washington was a fugitive from Harris County, Texas who has been at-large for a year.
According to KTRK, in October 2018, Washington was charged with murder and two aggravated assaults stemming from a shooting in October 2017. In that incident Washington allegedly got into a car and shot three women killing one. They report one of the victims said she barely knew Washington, and did not know why he started shooting. The victim said she was shot at least seven times. Gerald Washington was charged in October 2018 for those crimes.
Police say that after his arrest, Washington was given a $200,000 bond, and put on an ankle monitor.
After making bond, investigators say Washington allegedly committed another murder in February 2020. He then reportedly tampered with and removed his ankle monitor becoming a fugitive.
The Opelousas Police Department and St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office assisted the U.S. Marshal's Office in the incident.
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