U.S. Marshals have arrested a man wanted in connection to the December 2019 homicide of a Delaware rideshare driver.
On Thursday night, Dec 12, 2019, at approximately 10:00 p.m., New Castle County Police Officers were dispatched to the Simca Lane, in the Dorjul Apartments, for reports of a shooting which had just occurred.
When officers arrived at the apartment complex officers found rideshare driver Roger Williams, 42, of Newark, suffering from a mortal gunshot wound. Williams would later be pronounced deceased at the scene by New Castle County Paramedics.
Through their investigation detectives developed 23-year-old Michael Toombs of Chester, Pennsylvania as a suspect in Williams’ killing. Warrants for Murder First Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony were issued for Toombs, who police said at the time should be considered armed and dangerous.
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As authorities searched for Toombs, New Castle County Police Chief Colonel Vaughn Bond offered condolences to the family and said this was a heinous act that took the life of an innocent person. Bond went on to say that Detectives and officers worked side by side with members of the community to identify Michael Toombs as the suspect in the investigation.
Unable to located Toombs, authorities enlisted the assistance of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) First State Fugitive Task Force and after a seven-week long manhunt Toombs, surrendered to the Marshals Service in Chester, Pennsylvania, according to U.S. Marshal Michael C. McGowan.
On Thursday McGowan announced the arrest of Toombs, who had been actively evading law enforcement and residing in several states since the December 12 homicide.
After Toombs arrest, Bond said “First, I want to again extend our condolences to the Williams family for their tragic loss.”, “Secondly, I want to thank our Federal Law Enforcement partners who worked tirelessly alongside us to locate the suspect.
“This is yet another example that the police can not solve crimes alone. We need help and involvement from the community. I am proud that we have members of the community who are willing to assist us during these difficult investigations. Absent their willingness to get involved this family would not have the answers they desperately deserve.”
Toombs remains in custody in Pennsylvania pending his extradition to Delaware for trial.