US Marshals arrest Mansfield homicide suspect in Phoenix

Members of the Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Task Force arrested Michael Childress, 29, who was sought in connection with a homicide of a Columbus man, in Phoenix on Tuesday.

Childress, 29, was wanted by the Mansfield Police Department on a felony warrant for attempted murder after reportedly getting into an argument with Kenneth Norris, 31, then pistol whipping and shooting the victim in the head, police said.

The assault and shooting took place outside of Moto Mart, at 1050 W. Fourth St., on May 1, and Norris succumbed to his injuries three days later.

Richland County coroner's investigator Bob Ball said Norris was pronounced dead at 7:37 a.m. May 4 at Ohiohealth Mansfield Hospital. An autopsy was performed at the Montgomery County Medical Examiner's Office.

Members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force adopted the fugitive investigation for Childress and worked closely with the Mansfield Police Department to develop a location for Childress in Arizona.

Tuesday afternoon, members of the U.S. Marshals fugitive task force in Phoenix arrested Childress at an address near the 7300 block of West Valencia Drive.

Childress was booked into the Maricopa County Jail, where he is awaiting extradition back to Ohio, according to the marshals.

A homicide warrant for Childress is forthcoming, the Marshals Service said in the news release.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said, “From the Mansfield Police Department to the fugitive task force in Phoenix, Arizona, this arrest was the result of outstanding law enforcement efforts. Fugitives can flee, but they cannot outrun the reach of the U.S. Marshals Service.” lwhitmir@gannett.com Twitter: @Lwhitmir