U.S. Marshals Arrest Lapwai Murder Suspect Hiding Out-of-State

Coeur d’Alene, ID – On November 27, 2023, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force, along with multiple law enforcement partners arrested William O. Eyle, 20, in Pendleton, Oregon. Eyle was wanted on a federal warrant issued by the U.S. District Court on October 17, 2023. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Coeur d’Alene charged Eyle with Murder in the Second Degree and Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. Earlier in May of 2023, while on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation in North Idaho, he allegedly shot his victim numerous times and then went on the run.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the murder investigation and the USMS later joined the hunt for Eyle after the warrant for his arrest was issued. Investigators ultimately located Eyle hiding in Pendleton and rapidly deployed from multiple jurisdictions to safely apprehend him. The arrest operation required countless hours of careful coordination and planning to ensure the safety of the public. Eyle was believed to be armed and dangerous. This interagency operation included the USMS Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force out of the Portland office and Richland, Washington office; as well as the FBI, Umatilla Tribal Police, Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, Pendelton Police Department, Oregon State Police and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The United States Marshal for the District of Idaho, Brent Bunn, expressed his appreciation of the USMS task force members from Coeur d’Alene, Boise, Portland, Spokane, and Richland offices working seamlessly together as well as the exemplary collaboration between other federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement in the region. Marshal Bunn stated, “this level of collaboration among law enforcement is essential when tracking a violent fugitive who is motivated to evade capture.” Marshal Bunn also added, “this arrest will help bring justice to the victim’s family in addition to hopefully impacting the Nez Perce Indian Reservation in a positive way.”

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