Donnell Lindsey, the man accused of shooting and killing 3-year-old Major Howard in Cleveland last year has been captured, according to the U.S. Marshals.
"Mr. Lindsey didn't think he was going to be caught, the best word I could use would be cocky. He thought he was one step ahead of us and he was, but not this morning," said US Marshal Pete Elliott.
Authorities said Lindsey, 23, was picked up in Smyrna, Ga. just before 7 a.m. Tuesday.
?Howard's family told newsnet5.com they got the confirmation call shortly after the arrest.
The 3-year-old boy was shot and killed while sitting on a woman's lap in a car on East 113th Street last September.
RELATED | 3-year-old boy shot and killed in drive-by shooting in Cleveland
Days after Howard's death, the boy's mother, Brittney Anderson, shared details of the shooting with newsnet5.com. Watch what she said in the video below.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force has been looking for Lindsey since September 2015.
Over the past seven months, several leads were followed by Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force members. In November, U.S. Marshals increased the reward for information leading to $5,000. Officials eventually learned Lindsey had fled the area.
"My understanding is that he was jumping up and down wanting to know who turned him in. So, obviously, he was looking over his shoulder for the last seven months and that's they way we like it," said Elliott.
According to Elliott, it wasn't one tip that led to the arrest of Lindsey but several leads put together over the past seven months by members of The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force.
Elliott said, “Our task force never gave up on this case and never gave up on justice for Major Howard. Donnell Lindsey thought he could run forever, but he couldn’t outrun the determination of our dedicated team. We hope some peace is felt in Major’s family tonight.”
Lindsey will be extradited from Georgia to Cleveland where he will face aggravated murder charges.
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