After nearly a year and a half on the run, Deunta Youngblood, a suspect in a 2023 Memphis murder, has been arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service. The U.S. Marshals report details how the fugitive was located and apprehended in Memphis, Tennessee.
Authorities had been seeking Youngblood, 31, since the death of Shanqualus Morgan who succumbed to injuries sustained in an incident on the 1600 block of Rayburn Street back in October 2023. The Memphis Police Department initially handled the investigation, which turned fatal when Morgan died two days following the altercation. It was not until January 15 that an official warrant for first-degree murder was issued for Youngblood's arrest, setting in motion a focused manhunt by the U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) in cooperation with the local Shelby County Sheriff’s office.
Yesterday, the combined efforts of the TRVFTF, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Team led to Youngblood's capture. He was found hiding in a closet at a residence in the 4600 block of Chancellor Cove, Memphis where he was taken into custody "without further incident," according to the press release from the U.S. Marshals Service.
The TRVFTF is a collaborative force within Western Tennessee, not only includes Deputy U.S. Marshals; but also sheriff's deputies from Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Gibson Counties, Police Officers from Memphis and Jackson, along with Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The task force prides itself on its efficacy, having successfully apprehended over 3,000 violent offenders and sexual predators since its 2021 inception.
