LAKELAND, Fla. – A two-month manhunt for a fugitive accused of a New Year’s Day shooting ended Friday afternoon in a Lakeland neighborhood. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, working in tandem with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, apprehended 32-year-old Jean Roudy Chicoye on March 6, 2026.
Chicoye was wanted on an active felony warrant for Felonious Assault out of Franklin County, Ohio. According to investigators, the charges stem from an incident during the early morning hours of January 1, 2026, at the Haitian Freedom Celebration in Columbus, Ohio.
During that event, Chicoye allegedly shot two individuals before fleeing the state.
Detectives tracked Chicoye to a residence on North Terrace Circle in Lakeland. Law enforcement officers moved in on the location Friday afternoon, taking Chicoye into custody outside the home. Officials confirmed the arrest was made without incident or further violence.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has not released details regarding how long Chicoye had been hiding in Central Florida. He is currently being held awaiting extradition back to Ohio to face the assault charges.
READ: $1 Million Bounty: FBI Puts Accused ‘Born To Kill’ Gang Member On Ten Most Wanted List
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