Nearly four years after a Central City killing shook a New Orleans neighborhood, William Powell III is back in an Orleans Parish courtroom, this time held on a $2 million bond as prosecutors push a second-degree murder case. Powell, 43, was extradited from California this week in connection with the March 19, 2022 shooting death of 35-year-old Ciara Bullock, the result of a multi-state manhunt that authorities say stretched across tips, task forces and months of behind-the-scenes coordination.
How the Marshals Say They Found Him
Federal officials say the trail ended on the California coast. On Dec. 8, 2025, investigators tracked Powell to a home in Morro Bay, then moved in with help from regional fugitive teams and local police. After what authorities describe as a brief standoff, U.S. Marshals went into the residence and arrested him, holding Powell in San Luis Obispo County while they arranged to send him back to Louisiana, according to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Court Appearance and Bond
Once flown back to New Orleans, Powell was brought before Magistrate Commissioner Joyce Sallah for his first court appearance. She ordered him held on a $2,000,000 bond, as reported by NOLA.com. Court records show he was booked into the Orleans Justice Center shortly after the hearing, where he is expected to remain in custody while prosecutors line up witnesses, evidence and the broader case against him.
Victim and the Investigation Trail
Investigators say Bullock was found shot in the head outside a home in the 3000 block of South Saratoga Street on March 19, 2022, a killing that quickly drew attention from homicide detectives. They later identified Powell as a suspect, and officials say leads placed him first outside the New Orleans area, then in Jackson, Mississippi, and finally in California before the Marshals moved in that December. Local coverage of the Morro Bay arrest is detailed by Estero Bay News.
Charges, Prior Record and Possible Penalties
Prosecutors say Powell arrives back in New Orleans with a criminal record that already includes armed robbery and firearm-related convictions. If he is convicted on the second-degree murder charge, he faces a mandatory life sentence in prison, according to reporting by NOLA.com. The arraignment and steep bond set the stage for what is likely to be a closely watched pretrial stretch as both prosecutors and defense attorneys prepare for the next round of hearings.
Why the Case Is Drawing Local Attention
The arrest and bond hearing drop Powell's case back into public view at a time when New Orleans is still wrestling with a recent surge in homicides and the long shadow of unsolved killings. Hoodline previously covered the multi-state manhunt and the Marshals' December apprehension, while local crime watchdogs such as the Metropolitan Crime Commission have been cited by news outlets to help explain how cases like this fit into broader homicide trends in the city. Residents and community advocates say upcoming court dates will be watched closely as New Orleans continues to push for closure in some of its longest-running homicide investigations.
