After a three-year pursuit across state lines, William Powell, a fugitive wanted in connection with a 2022 murder in New Orleans, was apprehended on the California coast. Powell, 43, was arrested in Morro Bay following a joint operation by the U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Louisiana New Orleans Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
The saga began with a second-degree murder warrant for Powell's arrest on the day of Ciara Bullock's March 19, 2022, murder, in the 3000 block of South Saratoga Street in New Orleans. The New Orleans Police Department enlisted the assistance of the New Orleans Task Force, which tracked Powell to Jackson, Mississippi, before he seemingly disappeared, after his initial flight from the crime scene, the U.S. Marshals Service relayed that Powell's case was escalated to a major case in 2024.
In November 2025, U.S. Marshals received a tip that led them to the coastal city of Morro Bay. Seeking assistance from their Bakersfield office and the Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, the authorities zeroed in on a residence on Mindoro Street. In a dramatic turn, just as authorities were encroaching on his hideout, Powell attempted to evade them once again, as detailed by the U.S. Marshals Service.
However, on Monday, law enforcement surrounded the residence and after a brief standoff, Powell was taken into custody. "After a brief standoff, U.S. Marshals entered the residence and arrested him," the U.S. Marshals Service detailed in their report. He is currently held at San Luis Obispo County, awaiting extradition to Louisiana to face the charges. The success of this arrest showcases how federal, state, and local agencies collaborate through USMS task forces to apprehend suspects of serious offenses.
