‘Person of interest' in murder of Duluth woman arrested in Louisiana
CADDO PARISH, La. - A "person of interest" wanted for questioning in the “heinous” killing of an Atlanta actress hours before her birthday, was arrested Tuesday in Louisiana.
Alfredo L. Capote, 30, was wanted charges in Gwinnett County in connection with the April 2016 rape, armed robbery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and aggravated sexual battery of his then-girlfriend, 35-year-old Jokisha Brown. Capote is also charged with two counts forgery and two counts of access device fraud for operating a counterfeit check cashing ring in Caddo Parish, according to a news release.
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According to the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Capote was arrested at an apartment complex by deputies investigating a counterfeit check operation. Authorities said it’s believed that Capote printed and distributed fake checks valued at more than $10,000 over the past few months. Police have since added more charges in connection to the counterfeiting payroll checks.
Authorities have been on the hunt for Capote since the brutal 2016 murder of Brown, who is said to be his ex-girlfriend.
Police said Copote raped Brown at her Duluth home with her son present, and then again at a Cobb County hotel. The next day, police said, Brown escaped and sought help from a stranger.
Three months later, Brown was found shot multiple times inside her Mercedes SUV at a beauty salon on Cheshire Bridge Road, where she frequented. Described as an aspiring actress and model, Brown was killed one day before her 36th birthday.
In 2016, the U.S. Marshal's Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Capote's arrest. Caddo Sheriff's Sgt. Bobby Herring, who was present at today's arrest, said the Sheriff's Office is working with the Atlanta Police Department in its murder investigation.
"We didn't dream we would get the call today... somebody got captured," said Dwayne Boyd, a teacher at the Premier Actors' Network, which holds classes in Decatur. Plenty of friends were horrified and outraged by the kidnapping allegations against Capote in the brutal April 2016 attack. "I felt like she didn't deserve this," Boyd said.
Caddo Parish authorities said more charges are expected to be filed against Capote, who remains under investigation for operating a counterfeit check cashing ring. He is being held at the Caddo Correctional Center.
Authorities still did not elaborate on decisions made by authorities and the local district attorney, but Caddo Parish officials said Capote is expected to be held on charges in Louisiana, before any possible extradition to Georgia.
Atlanta police traveled to Louisiana to speak with Capote. No word on what he may or may not have said to investigators.
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