U.S. Marshals Capture California Homicide Suspect in Kansas City

Kansas City, MO – United States Marshal Scott Seeling announced today the capture of fugitive Laron Gilbert in connection with the 2021 murder of a retired police officer in Oakland, CA.

Laron Marques Gilbert was charged in December 2021 with murder in Alameda County, California. Gilbert is alleged to be the getaway driver in a November 2021 incident where a retired police officer was shot and killed while working security for a TV news station crew on assignment in Oakland.  Two other suspects were also charged in the case and being held in custody while Gilbert remained a fugitive.  Investigators in Oakland requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force to locate and arrest him.
     
In early January 2024, investigators suspected Gilbert may be in Kansas City, Missouri and contacted the Marshals Service task force in the Western District of Missouri for assistance.  On January 17th, task force members from the Marshals Service, Kansas City Missouri Police Department, and Missouri State Highway Patrol spotted Gilbert in Kansas City and followed him to Blue Springs on the eastern edge of the metro.  As task force members approached Gilbert in a parking lot to arrest him, he fled on foot across Highway 40 and was taken into custody.  He was lodged at the Jackson County Detention Center where he awaits state extradition back to California.
        
The U.S. Marshals Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force-Kansas City Division, operates in conjunction with members of the Kansas City and St. Joseph Missouri Police Departments, Buchanan and Nodaway County Sheriff’s Offices, Missouri State Highway Patrol and other federal law enforcement partners. The task force objectives are to seek out and arrest fugitives charged with violent crimes, serious drug offenses, sex offenders and other violent felonies.  It also provides direct support to law enforcement agencies in tracking down and recovering missing children. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 67 local fugitive task forces, 8 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.

Tips can be submitted anonymously to the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers via the TIPS hotline at (816) 474-8477, on the internet at KCcrimestoppers.com, or the free mobile app available at P3Tips.com.
 
Tips can also be submitted to the U.S. Marshals service directly by downloading the USMS Tips app to your Apple or Android device. Follow the latest news and updates about the U.S. Marshals Service on Twitter:  @USMarshalsHQ.