March 26, 10 am
Following a multi-state man hunt, Harlin A. Pierce has turned himself into authorities in King George County, Virginia. The 18-year-old was sought as a suspect in the murder of his father, Anton G. Pierce, near Fort Davis, Texas.
For KRTS News, Lorne Matalon spoke with Rod Ponton, 83rd District Attorney, who said Harlin Pierce turned himself in "on the suggestion of a friend."
Ponton said Pierce had apparently been en route to his mother's house in northeastern Virginia before turning himself in. Ponton revealed new details about the alleged killing.
"It does appear that Anton Pierce was killed with a single gunshot wound to the head, probably in his sleep," he said.
Ponton said Thursday morning that the 18-year-old was in custody in Virginia, awaiting extradition procedures to be transferred to Jeff Davis County in Texas for prosecution for murder.
For days, law enforcement was actively searching for Harlin Pierce of Jeff Davis County in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. An arrest warrant was issued for the 18-year-old on Thursday, March 19.
The killing allegedly occurred in the Davis Mountains Resort subdivision, northwest of Fort Davis, on or around that date.
The Jeff Davis County Sheriff's Office said Harlin Pierce was seen in the area of Santa Fe and Denver in recent days, after having left the area driving a blue Volkswagen Jetta with New Mexico license plates.
In initial statements, authorities warned that Pierce should be considered armed and dangerous.
"This man will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for the crime he's alleged to have committed," Ponton said.