THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 10, 1996 TAG: 9608100263
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 49 lines
Two teen-age cousins, wanted in connection with a string of at least seven murders in three Southeast states and the theft of a large stash of weapons, were tracked down by the FBI as they slept in a Norfolk apartment Friday.
The arrests ended what authorities called an ``intensive'' manhunt that had extended from Alabama to Massachusetts.
Marcus E. Gamble, 19, who is also known as Marcus Dewayne Presley, and his cousin LaSamuel Gamble, 18, also known as ``Mane'' or ``Long Distance,'' were arrested without incident by the FBI's Violent Fugitives Task Force.
Their hometowns were not immediately known, but the FBI said both are from Alabama.
The cousins were wanted in connection with the execution-style murder of two employees of John's 280 Pawn Shop in Sterrett, Ala., on July 25. Killed were John Burleson, 44, and store manager Janice Littleton, 48.
One of the victims in that incident was was sexually assaulted, the FBI said. And 32 handguns, two assault rifles, $2,300 cash and numerous pieces of expensive jewelry were stolen.
The pair are also wanted in connection with the murders of four furniture workers in Mississippi and a convenience store clerk in Arkansas, authorities said.
The cousins apparently made their way to Hampton Roads sometime last week after eluding capture in in the Greater Boston area.
Police there had raided a number of homes in search of the men. They arrested one man, Steven McKenzie, 24, Aug. 1. He is suspected of having been the getaway driver in the pawn shop robbery. Authorities also recovered several handguns stolen from the pawn shop robbery, but the cousins stayed a step ahead of their pursuers.
Until they reached Norfolk.
The cousins were arrested about 9:30 a.m. at an apartment building at 34th and Granby streets. Their capture resulted from a joint effort by the FBI, state police and Norfolk and Virginia Beach police.
Bo McFarland, supervisory special agent of the Norfolk office of the FBI, said the cousins had been visiting people they knew in Norfolk. No charges will be filed against the people they were staying with, however, and it was unclear if their hosts even knew the men were wanted.
The pair were unarmed when arrested, and none of the stolen items was recovered in Norfolk.
The teen-agers are being held without bond in the Norfolk City Jail pending an extradition hearing.
KEYWORDS: ARREST MURDER SEX CRIME ROBBERY by CNB