Armed and Dangerous Fugitive Captured After 9-Hour Manhunt in Zebulon

ZEBULON, N.C. — A nearly nine-hour manhunt for an armed and dangerous fugitive ended early Tuesday morning when 34-year-old Dustin Letchworth was taken into custody, according to the Wake County Sheriff's Office.

The search began Monday afternoon when deputies arrived at a home on Knollwood Pond Lane to serve multiple felony warrants. Letchworth fled on foot as authorities approached, prompting a large-scale search involving more than 20 law enforcement personnel, K-9 units, helicopters, and drones.

“Our No. 1 focus is finding him,” said Sgt. David Bradford of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office during a 6 p.m. media briefing. “We want to locate him, we want to get him in custody as safe as possible.”

Residents in the area near Ferrell Road, Pearces Road, and Dukes Lake Road were urged to stay indoors and lock their doors. Letchworth, described as wearing a black hat, green sweater or jacket, brown pants, and green shoes, was considered armed and dangerous.

The search involved multiple agencies, including the Zebulon Police, State Highway Patrol, and deputies from Franklin and Johnston counties. Authorities set up a command post and deployed aerial support to comb the rural area.

Letchworth, who has had several run-ins with law enforcement since 2018, was wanted on multiple felony warrants. The sheriff’s office did not specify the charges during the press conference but emphasized the seriousness of the situation.

“Anytime someone is armed and dangerous, we want to make sure that we keep our community safe,” Bradford said. “It puts us in a serious situation.”

The manhunt concluded around 4:44 a.m. Tuesday, though details of the arrest were not immediately released. Authorities thanked the public for their cooperation and urged anyone with additional information to contact law enforcement.