A 33-year-old Seattle man accused of fatally shooting a former coworker in Seattle and his mother and stepfather in Wisconsin has been arrested in Chicago following a week-long search, according to the Kenosha Police Department.
Michael Anthony O’Neal Flemming was taken into custody after investigators followed leads that reportedly placed him in Chicago. Authorities said text messages exchanged between family members helped investigators identify his possible location.
The case involves three fatal shootings across two states, with prosecutors in Washington filing a first-degree murder charge in connection with the Seattle killing. Wisconsin authorities are also preparing to pursue charges related to the deaths of two family members.
Seattle Gas Station Shooting
According to authorities, O’Neal Flemming allegedly shot and killed a former coworker at a 76 gas station on Broad Street in Seattle at approximately 5 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13.
Investigators said security footage showed him moving between the gas station and a nearby 7-Eleven on Denny Way for about 30 minutes before he entered the gas station and allegedly shot the victim.
The Seattle killing prompted an investigation that later expanded to Wisconsin after authorities discovered two additional victims at a residence there.
Two Family Members Found Dead in Wisconsin
Authorities identified the other victims as Rena O’Neal, 59, and Rodney Brushwood, 57. They were found fatally shot during a welfare check at their home in the 5500 block of Washington Road on Monday.
Investigators identified O’Neal Flemming as a person of interest in the Wisconsin deaths as they worked to establish his whereabouts.
According to the Kenosha Police Department, text messages between family members indicated that he might be in Chicago. Investigators followed that information, leading to his arrest in the city.
Police have not announced the outcome of the Wisconsin investigation, and authorities are working through the next steps in the legal process.
First-Degree Murder Charge Filed in Seattle
O’Neal Flemming was charged with first-degree murder with a firearm on Tuesday in King County Superior Court in Seattle, following an independent review by prosecutors.
Court documents state that O’Neal Flemming had recently been behaving erratically and was believed to have been experiencing a mental health crisis. The documents also indicate that he had no known criminal convictions.
These details are part of the information reported in court records and do not establish a motive for the alleged killings.
His bail was set at $5 million, and his arraignment was scheduled for November 2.
Wisconsin Authorities Prepare for Extradition Proceedings
The Kenosha Police Department said detectives will work with the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office to begin extradition proceedings and pursue charges in Wisconsin.
Extradition proceedings would allow authorities in Wisconsin to seek his transfer from the state where he is being held so he can face any charges filed there. The process is separate from the criminal case already filed in Washington.
The investigations span multiple jurisdictions, requiring law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in Washington and Wisconsin to coordinate their efforts.
As the legal process continues, the Seattle case will proceed through King County Superior Court, while Wisconsin authorities work to determine the next steps concerning the deaths of Rena O’Neal and Rodney Brushwood.
O’Neal Flemming is accused of the killings, and the allegations remain subject to the legal process. Additional developments may follow as the investigations and court proceedings move forward.