Authorities have arrested a 40-year-old man who walked away from his Lincoln work release program two weeks ago.
The U.S. marshals took Anthony Gafford into custody Thursday night in Las Vegas. Authorities had received information from the U.S. Marshals Metro Fugitive Task Force in Lincoln that he could be in the Las Vegas area and “living on the streets,” according to a press release.
On Jan. 26, Gafford walked away from his work release program at the Community Corrections Center in Lincoln, one of the least restrictive centers in the Nebraska prison system. He left at 6 a.m. for work and didn’t return for the day, officials said.
Gafford was 19 when he was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Jacque Holbert. He was sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison and was due to be released Dec. 11, 2022, according to state prison records.
He shot Jacque Holbert, 16, on Sept. 15, 1997, as their vehicles passed each other.
Holbert’s grown son, 21-year-old Jacque S. “Jack” Holbert IV, was shot and killed on Jan. 20 while sleeping in a home near 38th and Burdette Streets.
“This arrest illustrates the effectiveness of U.S. Marshals Metro Fugitive Task Force as they developed investigative leads across multiple states to locate and arrest Mr. Gafford,” said Scott Kracl, U.S. marshal for the District of Nebraska.
