COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — According to the Columbia Police Department, fugitive and Tennessee murder suspect Nicholas Wayne Hamlett has been captured in Columbia.
Hamlett was located and identified at a local hospital on Sunday evening. He is in the temporary custody of USMS Columbia Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Columbia PD reports that a hospital employee recognized the suspect and notified police. His identity was confirmed via a fingerprint scanner.
Arrangements are currently being made with Tennessee authorities regarding Hamlett’s extradition to Monroe County, TN.
This was an ongoing story, with the following reported on November 1st:
CHAPIN, S.C. (WOLO) – Chapin police say the search for a wanted murder suspect continues this morning.
According to investigators, at around 12:30 a.m., Nicholas Hamlett, who’s wanted for first-degree murder for killing a man in Tennessee, was seen near Chapin High School.
As of 8:30 this morning, police say Hamlett has not been arrested.
Officers say they’ve been in contact with Lexington-Richland School District 5 and will remain in communication throughout.
The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $5,000 reward for information that will lead to the arrest of Hamlett. He’s considered armed and dangerous.
Police say they will continue searching throughout the morning. Authorities say Hamlett is 5’7″, weighs 170 pounds, has blue eyes and brown hair.
He reportedly uses multiple aliases and may still be using Brandon Andrade’s name. If you know where he may be, call 911.
The search has prompted schools in the area to go on secure status.
Officials with Lexington-Richland School District 5 released the following statement in an email to parents as well on social media it reads in part, “At this time, all School District Five schools are operating on a normal schedule.”
They continued by saying, “there is an increased law enforcement presence in our Chapin area schools. Chapin Families were notified at 7:22am this morning that school officials were in contact with local law enforcement and monitoring this situation. Please be assured that if it is determined that a school should shift its operations to lockdown status, it will immediately do so.”
As of 9:13 a.m., district officials say the only schools in the Chapin area under a modified secure status (no outdoor activities, but students and parents can still leave and enter the building) at this time are Chapin Elementary Eaglets, Chapin Intermediate School and Chapin High School.
They’ll be under the status until law enforcement informs the district that the suspect is apprehended or the area is secure.
Categories: Local News, National News, News
Tags: Columbia PD, Fugitive, Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, Tennessee