A fugitive in a North Carolina murder was arrested in Laurel Tuesday morning, police said.
A murder warrant was issued for Darius J. Smotherson, 19, of Kannapolis, N.C., for a May 21 murder there, according to Maryland State Police.
Lt. Terry Spry with the Kannapolis Police Department said Smotherson is one of three suspected in connection with the death of 17-year-old Daniel Cooper, who was shot in the neck while he was in a vehicle. The other two suspects have already been taken into custody, Spry said.
Late Monday, Kannapolis police detectives contacted Maryland State Police and informed them that Smotherson may have taken a bus from Georgia and could be heading to the Baltimore area. Fugitive investigators from Maryland State Police and other law enforcement agencies conducted surveillances at locations in Laurel and Baltimore where the bus could stop.
About 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, a passenger bus from Atlanta got to the rest area on Interstate 95 near Route 32 in Laurel. Smotherson got off the bus and was taken into custody without incident, police said.
Smotherson is being held on a fugitive warrant at the Maryland State Police Waterloo Barrack. Kannapolis police detectives are on their way to the barrack to continue their investigation and start extradition proceedings.
