MD Man Wanted for Christmas Eve Murder Captured in CT

New Haven, CT —The U.S. Marshals in Connecticut and Maryland, along with West Haven Police and Prince George’s County, Maryland, Police Department, today arrested a man wanted out of Prince George’s County on murder and other charges stemming from a Dec. 24, 2023, shooting which left one man dead.

Michael Crawford, 52, of Maryland, was identified as the assailant in the Christmas Eve shooting, which occurred about 11:20 p.m. in the 2900 block of Ritchie Road in the District Heights area. Kevin Simmons, 53, of District Heights, was found with gunshot wounds inside a residence. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A warrant for Crawford’s arrest, charging him with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, use of a firearm by a felon, reckless endangerment, and carrying a loaded handgun on his person.

Early today, members of the U.S. Marshals Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Marshals Capitol Area Fugitive Task Force, and West Haven Police Department arrested Crawford hiding out at a residence on Gregory Lane in West Haven.

Crawford was transported to the West Haven Police Department where he will be held pending extradition to Maryland.  

Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals – Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force in 1999, these partnerships have resulted in over 11,046 arrests (Updated as of 9/08/2022). The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent fugitives and sexual predators. Membership agencies include Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Waterbury Police Departments and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.