As of Wednesday, May 25, US Marshals believe that Armstrong may have fled by plane to New York City three days after Wilson was killed in a shooting while staying at a friend's home on Maple Street in Austin.
According to new information, Armstrong was at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at 12:30 p.m. on May 14. According to a press release issued Wednesday by the U.S. Marshals Service, Armstrong is believed to have then boarded a flight to Houston Hobby Airport and then connected to a flight to LaGuardia Airport in New York. [The U.S. Marshals Service released new surveillance video showing a woman believed to be Armstrong at the Austin airport. She is wearing a blue denim jacket, a black shirt with a pink design on the chest, white jeans, black and white tennis shoes, a black COVID mask, and possibly carrying a yoga mat on her shoulder.
The Austin Police Department (APD) issued an arrest warrant for Armstrong in connection with the shooting death of Wilson, which was signed by a judge on May 17 in Austin Municipal Court - Travis County District Court and filed on May 19, 2022.
The arrest warrant named Armstrong, 34, who is wanted for first-degree felony murder, and described her as a white female with no additional aliases; U.S. Marshall also described Armstrong as white, 5'8″ tall, around 125 pounds, long curly light brown hair, and hazel eyes.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Brandon Fila confirmed to Cycling News on Wednesday that Armstrong has not yet been located beyond the latest clues indicating that he arrived at LaGuardia Airport on May 14.
"From that point on, as of right now, we don't know any more about her leaving the airport or how she got there. We just believe that once we know that information now, we will be able to confirm that information. In the meantime, while we gather all of our investigative efforts and put them together, we will reach out to the public. Because maybe we will get another piece of information that someone may have seen her or may have given her some form of transportation, such as a ride-share program. [At this time, she left on [May 14] and a warrant was issued for her arrest on [May 17].
Asked if it was possible that Armstrong was no longer in the U.S., Fila replied, "Anything is possible at this point."
"We had initially focused our investigation here in Austin until we had some facts that led us outside of Austin. Yesterday evening (May 24) we were able to confirm that fact. What can she do now?' All we can do is follow her footsteps and catch up.
"She could go to another country. Of course. The arrest warrant was issued on the 17th, so at that point [May 14] she was not wanted. She could have said [with her passport], 'I'm going on vacation, see you later. I could have gone anywhere. She could have gone to Canada. "
According to an affidavit in response to the arrest warrant published in the Washington Post, on May 12, the day after the shooting, [authorities] discovered that Armstrong had an outstanding Class B arrest warrant.
[Authorities] then located and arrested Armstrong and transported him to the Austin Police Department Homicide Division, where he was briefly detained and interviewed. However, according to the affidavit, during the interview, she was informed by detectives that the Class B warrant was not valid and that she was free to leave.
Austin Police detectives stated at a press conference on Tuesday, May 24, that Armstrong was released due to a date of birth discrepancy.
"Because her date of birth in our report management system did not match the date of birth listed on the warrant, Armstrong was mistakenly released on a misdemeanor warrant," the detective said.
The affidavit also stated that Armstrong was last seen on May 13.
The U.S. Marshall Lone Star Fugitive Task Force is calling on the public for information to help locate Armstrong. The Task Force is actively conducting a fugitive investigation and is following up on leads regarding her whereabouts.
Anyone with information on Armstrong's whereabouts is asked to contact the US Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102 or submit information using the USMS Tips app. Tips can also be sent to the Metropolitan Area Crime Stoppers at 1-800-893-8477.
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