NEW YORK (PIX11) — The man accused of killing a couple in their home in Queens has been taken into custody, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced Wednesday evening.
Jamel McGriff was apprehended after being spotted by police officers in Midtown Manhattan, Tisch posted on X.
McGriff’s luck ran out Wednesday night outside the Lucky Strike bowling alley near the bright lights of Times Square — one of the most heavily policed and surveilled spots in the city.
Sources said investigators had been tracking the suspected murderer’s movements through Manhattan all day. He allegedly used the victim’s credit card at various places, including a downtown movie theater.
Eagle-eyed officers later spotted the 42-year-old walking toward Broadway theaters around 5:37 p.m. and arrested him without incident on West 44th Street near Seventh Avenue.
An unhoused woman holding her young daughter said in Spanish, “He walked by and threw me $5 with police after him.”
McGriff, a parolee, has a string of violent robberies, including one where he was convicted of sexually assaulting a worker in a Manhattan store 20 years ago, authorities said Tuesday.
In a press conference on Tuesday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the suspect had been going from door to door, asking for assistance, claiming his phone battery had died.
He was initially denied entrance at the first home, so he moved to a second house, which was the Olton home. Surveillance video showed him speaking with a man at the second house, who allowed him into the backyard, police said.
McGriff was seen entering the rear door at around 10:18 a.m. and exiting at around 3:08 p.m. The couple was found dead inside the home after officials responded to the fire reported by a family member, police said.
Frank Olton was found tied to a pole in the basement with multiple stab wounds. His wife was found burned beyond recognition.
On Wednesday evening, Tisch posted on X: “He was spotted in Midtown Manhattan by eagle-eyed cops who didn’t hesitate before jumping into action. Thank you to the best detectives and the best cops in the world for their work tracking and apprehending this violent criminal.”