On Tuesday morning, Tennessee quadruple murder suspect Austin Drummond was arrested by the Jackson Police Department following a lockdown alert that had forced residents in two areas of the city to take shelter. Officers took Drummond into custody after confirming his sighting along Pipkin Road, where he was seen approaching a local church armed with a rifle. Surveillance footage provided by police showed Drummond attempting to open a building’s door around 11 p.m. on Sunday night.
The arrest comes after an intense manhunt that spanned several weeks, with authorities offering a reward of $32,500 for information leading to Drummond’s capture. The U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force was instrumental in the effort, working alongside local law enforcement to track down the suspect. ‘Our priority is finding Austin Drummond and helping deliver justice for the victims’ families,’ said U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller in a statement. ‘The combined effort of agencies from every level, including the Office of Governor Bill Lee, is evidence of our commitment to preserving peace and ensuring the safety of our communities.’
Drummond, 28, is a suspect in the killing of four people in Tiptonville, a town located roughly 125 miles from Memphis. The victims – James M. Wilson, 21, Adrianna Williams, 20, Cortney Rose, 38, and Braydon Williams, 15 – were discovered in Tiptonville on Tuesday. An infant found on the front lawn of a random individual’s house on July 29 is related to all four of the victims, officials said. Drummond is facing four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, and weapons offenses.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has so far arrested three individuals that they described as ‘associates’ of Drummond. Giovonte Thomas, 28, Tanaka Brown, 29, and Dearrah Sanders, 23, were all charged with accessory after the fact to 1st Degree Murder in connection with the manhunt for Drummond. Brown also faces one count of tampering with evidence. The arrests of these individuals underscore the complex web of criminal activity surrounding the quadruple murder case, with law enforcement continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the deadly incident.