U.S. Marshals Capture Columbus Murder Suspect in Alabama

Columbus, OH – The U.S. Marshals in Southern Alabama arrested Clarence Ellis on January 4, 2024.

Clarence Ellis was wanted by the Columbus Division of Police for Murder. Ellis was charged in the Franklin County Municipal Court for allegedly using a firearm to shoot and kill Derrius Morgan in the 2000 Block of McGuffey Road, Columbus. on July 12, 2023. The U.S. Marshal’s Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) adopted the fugitive investigation. During the investigation it was learned Ellis likely fled to Alabama. Ellis was safely apprehended in the 1000 Block of Honeysuckle Road, Dothan, AL by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force. Ellis is now in the custody of the Houston County Jail in AL.

“The United States Marshals Service, through its fugitive task forces, assists state and local agencies by sharing our nationwide resources with our law enforcement partners to bring those who try to run and hide to justice. The U.S. Marshals and Columbus Division of Police work together daily to locate fugitives accused of violent crimes and make our community safer. - Michael D. Black, United States Marshal. 

Columbus SOFAST is a fugitive-focused, U.S. Marshals Service-led task force consisting of local, state and federal authorities including the Columbus Division of Police, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Bexley Police Department, Cambridge Police Department, Capital University Police Department, Delaware County Probation Office, Groveport Police Department, Hocking County Sheriff’s Office, Lancaster Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department, Ohio Attorney General Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal, Office of Inspector General Social Security Administration, United States Attorney’s Office, Utica Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Whitehall Police Department, and Zanesville Police Department.

Anyone with information on any fugitive may submit an anonymous web tip.