Just after 10 a.m. Friday the Philadelphia Police SWAT team and members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force closed in on a North 16th Street apartment building. The raid was based on a tip that their target was hiding in Apartment C on the third floor.
Sure enough, that's where they found fugitive murder suspect Jeffrey Little,19, of the 2100 block of North Marvine Street, hiding under a bed. Police say he did resist for a short time.
"They found him hiding in a rear bedroom," said Philadelphia Police Captain James Clark. "After a brief struggle he was arrested, taken into the Homicide Unit and charged."
"I guess he tried to run," said Terrell Johns of North Philadelphia. "They had to use extreme force on him. They had to get him down, and then I saw them bring him out. He had his face covered."
Little is suspected in the murder of 23-year-old Penn State student Mohan Varughese, who was shot and killed around 5:15 p.m. on May 9th as he sat on a Camac Street stoop with his girlfriend, a Temple University student.
Police say Little appeared suddenly, armed with a handgun and demanded the keys to Varughese's motorcycle. It ended, police say, with the execution-style slaying of the young man who was within days of getting his degree in psychology. Police say Little left without taking the motorcycle.
A murder warrant for Little was issued five days ago.
"He is very much known to police," said Clark.
After Friday's arrest, Varughese's mother told Action News that no arrest or conviction can bring back her son. Varughese's twin brother said he wants the death penalty for Little if he is convicted.
The Marshals say the anonymous tipster who led authorities to Little will be entitled to the $2,500 reward.
