Authorities believe the final suspect connected to a 2022 homicide in St. Johnsbury was caught in New Orleans
Authorities believe the final suspect connected to a 2022 homicide in St. Johnsbury was caught in New Orleans on Monday. Danny Daniels, 32, of Philadelphia, was arrested after multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Louisiana State Police and the FBI, pursued him, first in a vehicle and then on foot. Daniels, aka “Miami,” aka “Kyle,” has been called the “mastermind” of a plan to steal drugs from Israel Jimenez Lugo, 49, in Dec of 2022, at a Hastings Hill apartment that led to Lugo being shot to death in the torso. A month after the shooting, an arrest warrant was issued for Daniels when the Caledonia State’s Attorney’s Office filed charges of aiding in the commission of first-degree murder, aiding in the commission of assault and robbery with a weapon, and aiding in the commission of burglary. U.S. District Court also has a case pending against Daniels for alleged possession of narcotics with intent to distribute controlled substances in 2023. Now that he’s in custody, the prosecution’s decision on which to take precedence is unclear at the moment, said Caledonia County State’s Attorney Jessica Zaleski on Tuesday morning. She said the state of Louisiana, where Daniels is now, has their charges against him. Zaleski suspects the federal charge will take priority, and Daniels will be placed in the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Office for transport to Burlington.