Seventeen-year-old Royal King was arrested Wednesday by U.S. Marshals in connection with the murder of Jahari Stegall, also 17, at a Cleveland deli last month. As reported by Cleveland19, King was apprehended at a residence on East 147th Street in Cleveland, marking an end to a manhunt that began after the shooting at Northshore Collinwood's 185th Deli on September 19.
King, who is now in custody, drove to the deli in a stolen car, entered, and was later involved in a fatal altercation with Stegall, as surveillance video and authorities have indicated. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley, as described in a WKYC report, explained that security footage captured the moments leading up to the confrontation. King will be arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court and has been placed in the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center.
During the arrest at the home near East 147th Street and Kinsman Road, U.S. Marshals not only apprehended King but also located a loaded rifle in what appeared to be King's bedroom. This detail was shared in a press release cited by WKYC. Also taken into custody was Anthony Phelps, 36, who had multiple parole violations and was wanted by the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, "This was a heinous and brazen crime committed in the middle of the day by a suspect who has no regard for the life and safety of others." According to Elliot's statement obtained by WKYC, the community expresses a collective sense of relief with the suspect now off the streets. The arrest comes as a result of a cooperative effort by the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, which followed up on the tip that led them to King's location, as noted in a detailed report from FOX8 news.
