CAPTURED: U.S. Marshals arrest Des Moines fugitive accused of firebombing apartment to kill kids



INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. –  A Washington man accused of trying to  kill his own 4 and 5 year old kids by burning down their apartment was arrested in Indianapolis Friday morning. The U.S. Marshals in Seattle requested the assistance of the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force to locate Edward Holmes II after learning he had fled there.

According to police, he was taken into custody at 21st and Arlington around 11:30 a.m. by U.S. Marshals and IMPD. There was no pursuit, and he was not armed. He was transferred to the Marion County Jail, and police say he plans to sign a waiver to be taken back to Washington state.

Prosecutors charged Holmes II with Arson 1st Degree after investigators say he was seen on camera setting a fire in his ex-girlfriend’s apartment building on 30th Avenue South in Des Moines on Tuesday, October 3.

Detectives in Washington expected Holmes was in Indianapolis because he used to live in the Circle City.

DES MOINES, Wash. - King County Sheriff's detectives are asking for the public's help to find a fugitive accused of trying to kill his own 4 and 5 year old kids by burning down their apartment.

Prosecutors have charged Edward Holmes II with Arson 1st Degree after investigators say he was seen on camera setting a fire in the building on 30th Avenue South in Des Moines on Tuesday , October 3.

"This is a heinous crime," said King County Sgt. Cindi West. "He went over to his ex-girlfriend's apartment. He has a 4- and 5-year-old children that live there with his ex. He cut the gas line to his ex's car, filled up a bottle with that gas, and when his ex left the apartment to go get some gas - when she went outside and realized her car wouldn't start - Holmes went to the apartment, went into a little shed area between all the apartment doors and lit a fire causing an explosion."



The mother and her children are now in hiding until Holmes is caught. He has a $350,000 warrant for his arrest.

"He potentially could have killed not only his own children, but the other occupants of this apartment," West said. "This is a dangerous guy. You can imagine this family is afraid, and I don't think they are going to sleep until this guy is put behind bars."

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information on his whereabouts. If you have any information, call 1-800-222-TIPS or use the P3 Tips App on your phone. It is guaranteed to be anonymous.

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