U.S. Marshals Arrest Murder Suspect

BURIEN, Wash. - The U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF) on Oct. 13 arrested a fugitive who was wanted on a felony warrant for escape by the Washington State Department of Corrections and wanted for first-degree murder by the Des Moines Police Department.  

Derrick Laquan Stell Jr., 29, was wanted by the Washington State Department of Corrections on an escape warrant stemming from original charges of drive-by shooting and first-degree robbery. He was also wanted by the Des Moines Police Department in connection with the Sept. 20 fatal shooting of Abraham Logan.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, Washington State Department of Corrections, FBI and Des Moines Police Department worked together to locate and apprehend Stell.

Stell was located in the 11000 block of Des Moines Memorial Drive in Burien. During the arrest operation, he attempted to flee on foot. PNVOTF members quickly pursued and apprehended him without further incident.

Stell had a firearm and drugs in his possession at the time of his arrest. He told arresting officers that he had wanted to kill a law enforcement officer and commit suicide by cop during the arrest. Stell also faces a charge of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, stemming from the arrest. 

The PNVOTF, alongside our local and federal partners, remains committed to holding those responsible for senseless acts of violence accountable,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Donrien Stephens for the Western District of Washington. “We hope this arrest brings some measure of justice and peace to Mr. Logan’s family.”

The PNVOTF is a U.S. Marshals-led partnership comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The PNVOTF’s primary mission is to locate, apprehend, and return the most violent and egregious federal and state fugitives to the justice system.

Anyone with information on wanted fugitives is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-877-WANTED2 or email usmstips@usdoj.gov .