Manhunt ends for murder suspect after Channel 2 Action News reporter spots man, calls police

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — The manhunt for a murder suspect from Arizona who escaped near the Atlanta airport Thursday morning is over after a Channel 2 Action News crew spotted the suspect and alerted police.

J’ssan Carlos Strover, 20, is wanted in Arizona for first-degree murder, attempt to commit first degree murder and aggravated assault.

Channel 2′s Matt Johnson and photojournalist Joe Booker were preparing their story Thursday night for WSB Tonight when they said Strover ran past their live truck and into some bushes.

Johnson immediately called police and moments later, Strover was taken into custody.

Investigators said Strover was arrested on other charges in Fulton County earlier this month but was already wanted in Arizona. Strover was initially picked up by Arizona deputies from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday morning.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Police said he was with Maricopa County deputies at a rental car center at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport when he managed to get away.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said Strover escaped while walking to a tram connecting to the airport.

“He actually pushed past the Maricopa County deputies, and this guy went down a set of steps, across this very street into the wood line,” said Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat said.

Earlier in the day, Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes was at the scene, where a perimeter was set up around a section of woods. At least 100 investigators were searching with dogs, helicopters and police vehicles.

Multiple agencies including the Clayton, Forsyth and Fulton County sheriffs’ offices, Atlanta, College Park and East Point police and the Georgia State Patrol assisted in the investigation.

TRENDING STORIES

• Driver of van in deadly crash charged with 6 counts of vehicular homicide
• 5 dead, including 2 deputies, after 13-hour standoff in North Carolina
• HAPPENING TODAY: President Biden visiting metro Atlanta

Police told Fernandes that Strover was initially pulled over on a traffic stop in Sandy Springs when police found out he had a warrant out for murder.

Phoenix Police said Strover is wanted in connection to a shooting that left a man dead at a business on February 19.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News App for alerts as news breaks]

Johnson spoke with retired Atlanta police detective Vince Valsquez about the case. He told Johnson that he was worried about the fugitive’s state of mind.

“He definitely does not want to go to jail. That makes him extra dangerous, not just to law enforcement, but to the general public,” Valsquez said.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Driver of van in deadly crash charged with 6 counts of vehicular homicide