(Dec. 15, 2016) Though few additional details were provided, state police reported a suspect in the Dec. 2 fatal shooting in downtown Pocomoke City, Anthony Tunnel, 36, was apprehended in a Salisbury motel without incident Sunday morning.
Tunnel is being held at the Wicomico County Detention Center on charges of first- and second-degree murder plus manslaughter. He is listed as having no known address.
Berlin Barrack Commander Lt. Earl Starner said both the victim, James Allen Jr., and the suspect had connection to a suspected “drug nexus” in the southern part of the county, but declined to elaborate on the scope, location or depth of the operation.
In a joint press conference with Starner, Pocomoke City Police Chief William Hardin listed almost a dozen joint task forces and other public assets involved in the investigation, including the task force devoted to investigating gang activity, but the pair declined to comment on any findings of the investigation.
The effort was described as multi-jurisdictional, with Accomack County, Virginia, mentioned but no other areas revealed, and no explanation as to why the victim was targeted was offered.
Starner said the investigation continues, but declined to comment on the possibility of other suspects, or any motive in the crime.
He also declined to comment on the possible involvement of area residents or any connections to other examples of unrest in the area.
“We’re not ruling anything out,” Starner said.
Allen, 26, of Pitts Circle in Pocomoke City, was pronounced dead at the scene in the area of Fourth and Market streets after suffering multiple gunshot wounds on the evening of Dec. 1.
Shortly after 10 p.m. that night, police received a 911 call from a passing motorist who reported seeing a man stagger and fall in the middle of the road.
Police believe the incident occurred about an eighth of a mile away, in the area of Fourth and Oxford streets.
Hardin and Starner asked anyone with information to contact police.
Tunnel is being held at the Wicomico County Detention Center on charges of first- and second-degree murder plus manslaughter. He is listed as having no known address.
Berlin Barrack Commander Lt. Earl Starner said both the victim, James Allen Jr., and the suspect had connection to a suspected “drug nexus” in the southern part of the county, but declined to elaborate on the scope, location or depth of the operation.
In a joint press conference with Starner, Pocomoke City Police Chief William Hardin listed almost a dozen joint task forces and other public assets involved in the investigation, including the task force devoted to investigating gang activity, but the pair declined to comment on any findings of the investigation.
The effort was described as multi-jurisdictional, with Accomack County, Virginia, mentioned but no other areas revealed, and no explanation as to why the victim was targeted was offered.
Starner said the investigation continues, but declined to comment on the possibility of other suspects, or any motive in the crime.
He also declined to comment on the possible involvement of area residents or any connections to other examples of unrest in the area.
“We’re not ruling anything out,” Starner said.
Allen, 26, of Pitts Circle in Pocomoke City, was pronounced dead at the scene in the area of Fourth and Market streets after suffering multiple gunshot wounds on the evening of Dec. 1.
Shortly after 10 p.m. that night, police received a 911 call from a passing motorist who reported seeing a man stagger and fall in the middle of the road.
Police believe the incident occurred about an eighth of a mile away, in the area of Fourth and Oxford streets.
Hardin and Starner asked anyone with information to contact police.