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U.S. Marshals Capture Springfield Shooting Suspect

U.S. Marshals have arrested a teenage fugitive wanted in connection to the shooting death of 17-year-old Springfield high school student Jeffrey Wellington early Easter morning. Tyrin Hawkins, 17, is now in custody in the Clark County Juvenile Jail

Hawkins was arrested in Dayton by the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team or SOFAST, which is made up of nearly two dozen area law enforcement agencies and U.S. Marshals.

Dayton area SOFAST Supervisor Jeremy Rose says Hawkins was arrested without incident at the King's Court Apartment Complex on the city's westside shortly before 8 a.m.

"Despite him making allegations and us hearing that he was going to have a shootout with the cops and he wasn't going to go peacefully, I think he was extremely surprised that we found him there," Rose said. "So much so, that he didn't even know what was going on until we actually put cuffs on him."

Rose stated that several tips and leads led them to the complex and the investigation is ongoing into whether or not the owners knew that Hawkins was hiding there, adding, "There could be charges forthcoming for harboring or aiding if the individuals knew in fact that he was wanted."

Springfield Superintendent Dr. David Estrop said students and staff are glad the hunt for Hawkins had a non-violent ending.

"We needed to bring an end to the violence," Estrop explained. "This is about the best of all the options that there were available and that was to have the young man taken into custody without further violence."

Springfield City Prosecutor Andrew Wilson said he filed a motion Monday afternoon to have Hawkins tried as an adult.

"He will be arraigned tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. and he will be served that motion," Wilson said. "The juvenile court will set a pre-trial on our motion. If we show that there is probable cause that he committed the crimes with which he's accused, then he will be bound over to adult court."

The family of Jeffrey Wellington said they are relieved to know that Hawkins is in custody.