Texas Murder Suspect Captured by U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Colorado

Denver, CO – The U.S. Marshals Service Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF), with the assistance of both the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSDP) and Dept. of Homeland Security’s Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), located and arrested a Texas homicide suspect Tuesday in Monument, Colorado.

John W. Bagwell was wanted by the Austin, Texas Police Department on an arrest warrant for first-degree murder. The charge is in relation to a shooting incident that occurred in the parking lot of a L.A. Fitness location in Austin on May 23 that left a 36-year-old male deceased. Witnesses observed three suspects flee the scene of the shooting. With Bagwell apprehended, two of the three suspects are now in custody. One remains at large.

The U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force (LSFTF) Austin Division aided in locating and apprehending Bagwell at the request of the Austin Police Department. On Aug. 1, the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force (LSFTF) received information that Bagwell may be at a truck stop in the Monument, Colorado area. This information was relayed to the U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force in Colorado Springs, CO.

U.S. Marshals Service investigators, with the direct assistance of Task Force Officers from both CSPD and ICE, set up surveillance around the truck stop to locate Bagwell. Colorado Violent Offender Task Force personnel eventually observed Bagwell exiting a semi-truck, which was parked behind the truck stop with the windows covered. Bagwell and another male then entered a ride-share vehicle and left the truck stop before contact could be made. Colorado Violent Offender Task Force personnel followed the vehicle until it stopped at a business near Highway 105 and Peakview Blvd. Bagwell exited the vehicle and Colorado Violent Offender Task Force personnel took him into custody without incident in the parking lot. Bagwell was transported by U.S. Marshals to the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center where he was booked on the murder warrant. He is awaiting extradition back to Austin.

The arrest of this fugitive represents a culmination of extensive cooperative investigative efforts between the Austin Police Department, U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force, Colorado Springs Police Department, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force that targets the most violent offenders to include those wanted for murder, assault, sex offenses, and other serious offenses throughout the state and country. Nationally, the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.

Tips can be submitted to the U.S. Marshals Service directly and anonymously by downloading the USMS Tips app to your Apple or Android device. It can also be accessed online at https://www.p3tips.com/USMS.aspx. You can also follow the latest news and updates about the U.S. Marshals Service on Facebook and Twitter; @USMarshalsHQ or @USMSDenver.