U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Arrests Wilkes-Barre Shooting Suspect

Scranton, PA – Today, U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane announced the arrest of Zaheem Smith – a 25-year old Philadelphia man.

On December 10, 2018, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department investigated a shooting in the 300 block of Parkview Circle. As a result of their investigation, detectives charged Smith with Aggravated Assault with a firearm and took him into custody. Later he was released on bail. On November 12, 2019, Smith failed to appear in the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas as required and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. On November 14, 2019, the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas issued a bench warrant after Smith absconded from probation supervision. The effort to apprehend Smith was adopted by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force.

Task force members learned that Smith was staying at a hotel in the 300 block of Bear Creek Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre and took him into custody at 6:30 this morning. He was turned over to the Wilkes-Barre Police Department for booking.

United States Marshal Martin J. Pane stated, "We place a high priority on fugitive cases in which the use of violence against victims occurs. It’s important to ensure these victims have the ability to face the accused. I commend these fugitive hunters on a safe apprehension in bringing Mr. Smith to justice."

The U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania is comprised of 20 state, county and local police agencies, including: the Pennsylvania State Police; the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole; the Scranton Police Department; the Wilkes-Barre Police Department; the Bradford County Sheriff's Office, and the Kingston Police Department - all of whom participated in this investigation.