Inset: Michael O'Neal Fleming (Kenosha Police Department). Background: The 76 gas station where a clerk was killed on Oct. 13 in Seattle, Washington (Google Maps).
A man wanted on suspicion of multiple murders in Wisconsin and Washington state was arrested in Illinois this week.
Michael O'Neal Fleming, 33, stands accused of one count of murder in connection with the Oct. 13 death of 36-year-old Graeme Dobbeck, a clerk and manager at a 76 gas station in Seattle, according to law enforcement.
Authorities also believe Fleming killed his mother, 59-year-old Rena O'Neal, and her husband, 57-year-old Rodney Brushwood, at the couple's apartment on Washington Road in Kenosha.
The investigation into the multistate crime rampage started during the early morning hours at a convenience store near the Space Needle, according to a report by Milwaukee-based Fox affiliate WITI.
At 5:50 a.m. on Oct. 13, first responders were called after a customer found the clerk lying dead behind the counter. A subsequent review of surveillance footage, and an interview with the gas station's owner, connected Fleming to the incident, police said.
The assailant fired his weapon at least four times, according to court documents obtained by Seattle-based NBC affiliate KING.
In the surveillance footage, Fleming is allegedly seen purchasing a drink before going behind the counter to attack and shoot the clerk. After that, the suspect is seen fleeing on foot, police said.
"We don't know if this was random or targeted," a detective told WITI. "You know, they came into the store, they purchased an item — like I said — didn't take anything, so it wasn't a robbery. So, we're trying to find out if it was targeted or not."
More information came by way of the defendant's twin brother, according to law enforcement in the Badger State.
Anthony O'Neal Fleming allegedly told investigators in Kenosha that his brother had recently contacted him via text message and was acting erratically — seemingly in the throes of a mental health crisis.
The twin brother went on to say the defendant had asked for their parents' address, which he refused to provide. After that, the twin spoke to his mother, who said the defendant was in Chicago.
One of Brushwood's employees ultimately reported that Brushwood had not been into work for several days, and requested a welfare check on Oct. 19, according to law enforcement. During the ensuing search, O'Neal and Brushwood were found dead inside their home. Police said the couple had been shot to death and appeared to have been dead for several days before they were found.
After the grim discovery, investigators connected the two cases and issued an alert asking the public to contact them and warning that Fleming was "believed to be armed, dangerous and unstable."
The search ended Tuesday night in Chicago.
The defendant is currently being detained in Cook County pending extradition to the Badger State, according to a report by Chicago-based ABC affiliate WLS.
Comments