U.S. Marshals Arrest Murder Suspect in Bridgeport

Bridgeport, CT - The Connecticut U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force, working with the Bridgeport Police Department, Norwalk Police Department, and West Haven Police Department apprehended in Bridgeport today a fugitive facing numerous charges, including a murder charge out of New Haven.

Omar Nelson, 22, is also being sought by other police departments in Connecticut and has 10 active arrest warrants in all.

Nelson is wanted for armed robbery and criminal attempt to commit assault with a weapon out of West Haven.

The Bridgeport Police Department has five warrants for Nelson, charging him with second-degree strangulation, third-degree assault, first-degree unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment 1st degree, and violation of probation.

Nelson is alleged to have shot and killed a man Jan. 4 in the 1400 block of Chapel Street New Haven. On Jan. 7 Nelson is alleged to have robbed with a handgun a West Haven vape shop. Nelson is alleged to have shot at West Haven detectives as they attempted to apprehend him Jan. 10.

The assistance of the Connecticut U.S. Marshal Violent Fugitive Task Force was requested in locating and apprehending fugitive Nelson.

The U.S. Marshals task force, New Haven police, Bridgeport police and West Haven police located and apprehended Nelson at a residence in the 500 block of East main Street in Bridgeport. Nelson was in the attic of the residence hiding under insulation. Once in custody, he was transported to the New Haven Police Department.

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 United States 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.