Armed fugitive wanted in fatal shooting in N.H. tries to flee by leaping across balconies at Malden high-rise complex

U.S. Marshals, State Police take suspect into custody at Kennedy Drive apartments

By Steve Freker

An armed fugitive who is wanted in connection with a fatal shooting on Nov. 18 in New Hampshire was arrested Tuesday in Malden at a Kennedy Drive apartment complex. Giovanne Morris, 31, allegedly shot and killed a 42-year-old man in Manchester, N.H., in the early morning of Nov. 18 near a diner in that city. Morris was taken into custody by Mass. State Police and members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force after he tried to flee by jumping between balconies of high-rise buildings. Malden Police were also on scene to support the state and federal apprehension team.

State police said investigators had determined that Morris was staying at an apartment at 244 Kennedy Dr. in Malden. Police said the suspect’s last known address was in New Hampshire and did not have a listed address or residence associated with him in Malden. Morris was wanted as a fugitive out of New Hampshire on a charge of being a felon in possession of a dangerous weapon, a charge that police said stems from the fatal shooting of 42-year-old Carlos Rodriguez of Manchester on Nov. 18 near the Red Arrow Diner.

According to reports, members of the joint law enforcement contingent knocked on the door to the apartment that Morris was staying at and announced they were present. Police said the suspect escaped onto a fifth-floor balcony and jumped to the balcony of an adjacent apartment, according to authorities.

“His jump was observed by officers positioned on a perimeter outside the building,” police said, in an online report. “The arrest team then made entry into the original apartment, went to the balcony, and gave Morris verbal commands to surrender peacefully. Eventually, he did so.”

Morris was arraigned in Malden District Court as a fugitive from justice. The results of the arraignment were not immediately available, but sources said Morris was ordered held without bail and was in the process of being extradited back to New Hampshire to face pending charges.