Back in August 2024, after spending months on the run, a 20-year-old murder suspect in Memphis was dramatically arrested when he fell through a ceiling while trying to hide in an attic.
On Monday, August 26, authorities captured Deario Wilkerson, who had been wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of Troy Cunningham on April 2, 2024. The arrest took a dramatic turn when Wilkerson fell through the ceiling of a Memphis home while hiding from law enforcement.
According to a news release by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Wilkerson had been sought on charges of first-degree murder and reckless endangerment. His arrest warrant was issued on May 9, over a month after Cunningham’s death.
The U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) had been leading the fugitive investigation and tracked Wilkerson to a residence in the 1400 block of N. Merton Street in Memphis. When law enforcement entered the home, Wilkerson attempted to hide in the attic — but crashed through the ceiling, landing on the floor below.
“Deputy marshals, with help from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Memphis Police Department, surrounded the home. Wilkerson was not injured in the fall and was taken into custody without further incident,” the release stated.
Photos shared by USMS showed a gaping hole in the ceiling and debris scattered across the kitchen floor.
Wilkerson was the last of three suspects tied to the April 2 shooting. According to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, the incident began when police responded to a disturbance call near Peres and Merton Street. Officers heard multiple gunshots and found Cunningham on the sidewalk, shot in the back of the head while trying to flee.
Surveillance footage, reported by WREG, allegedly shows Wilkerson lunging at Cunningham, sparking the confrontation. As the victim ran, the two other suspects opened fire. After Cunningham collapsed, Wilkerson was seen picking up an object near his body before leaving.
During the chaos, gunfire also struck a car with two women inside. One of them was shot in the shoulder and taken to the hospital in noncritical condition.
The other two suspects were arrested in May, but Wilkerson had remained at large — until his sudden fall brought the months-long search to an unexpected close. until his sudden fall brought the months-long search to an unexpected close.
