A 26-year-old man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Atlanta was taken into custody Thursday, July 23, at the Motel 6 on Cobb Drive in Smyrna, according to the Atlanta Police Department.

Aloni Evans was arrested that morning by APD's Fugitive Unit and the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force. The operation ended a nearly four-week search and placed the arrest squarely within Cobb County, even though the underlying crime occurred in Atlanta.

APD publicly identified Evans but had not announced formal charges as of Thursday, July 23.

The underlying homicide

The case traces back to Wednesday, June 24, when Atlanta police responded to a Vine City apartment off Magnolia Street NW at approximately 8 a.m. and found a man shot to death, according to APD. The victim has not been publicly identified, and the circumstances of the shooting remain unknown.

Investigators linked Evans to the killing and sought him as a fugitive, though APD has not disclosed what evidence connected him to the scene.

Cross-jurisdictional arrest

The Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, headquartered in Atlanta, partners with more than 37 federal, state, and local agencies to locate and apprehend wanted individuals across the region. In this case, the task force tracked Evans to a motel in Smyrna, crossing the Fulton-Cobb county line to make the arrest.

No court date or arraignment schedule has been announced. The victim's identity has not been released, and Atlanta police have not described a motive.

Anyone with information about the June 24 Vine City homicide can contact the Atlanta Police Department's Homicide Unit or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477.