Marshals nab murder suspect
Published 9:41 am Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The family of an Atmore man killed last Thursday in an early-morning shooting can breathe a bit easier after officers with the U.S. Marshals Service made an arrest in the case early Tuesday morning in Pensacola, Fla.
Officers with the U.S. Marshals’ Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force from Pensacola and the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force from Mobile arrested Antonio Alberto Crenshaw, 29, of Pensacola, around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday in connection with the Aug. 25 shooting death of Christopher Payne Andrews, 23, on Maxwell St. in Atmore.
According to the Marshals Service, the GCRFTF requested assistance from the FRFTF late Monday night after receiving information that Crenshaw was staying in a hotel room at a Red Roof Inn located on the 7300 block of Plantation Road.
Several hours after convening, the two task forces were able to confirm the information and Crenshaw, also known as “Ton-Ton,” was arrested without incident and charged as a fugitive from justice.
Officials with the Marshals Service said “eventually Crenshaw will be extradited back to Escambia County, Ala. where he will face the homicide charge.” He is currently being held by the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office without bond.
Atmore police chief Jason Dean said while the arrest is a step towards solving the shooting, the investigation in on going.
“We’re still, of course, investigating leads,” Dean said. “We’re still waiting on the results of some evidence we submitted to the lab and other things.”
Dean said it is unclear at this time as to the exact motive of the crime and added as of now APD is not sure when Crenshaw will be extradited to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.