The U.S. Marshal’s Service asks for the public’s help in locating Malachi Darden, who is wanted in connection with the shooting death of a man in West Scranton during a drug buy robbery in May 2024.
In a Friday news release, the U.S. Marshal’s Service offered up to $2,500 for information about Darden’s whereabouts. It lists Darden’s previous location as Bronx, New York, as well as associations to Lackawanna and Luzerne counties.
Darden, 20, was the shooter in the drug-related incident and intended to rob Benjamin Thompson of drugs and cash, police charge.
Anyone with information on Darden’s whereabouts is asked to submit a tip to usmarshals.gov/tips, the release states.
Others arrested
Two men were arrested after the fatal shooting shortly before midnight May 14, when officers responded to 1820 Jackson St. and found Thompson unresponsive in the driver’s seat of his vehicle and covered in blood.
Thompson, 36, had driven to a nearby dollar store parking lot, intending to sell $700 worth of marijuana to Rahjuan Marquel Morgan of Scranton, according to a criminal complaint.
When he arrived at the parking lot, he was met by Darden, Morgan and Quamir Nichola Robinson, 23, of Dunmore.
Morgan, 25, would later tell police that as he was standing on the passenger side of the vehicle and Robinson was standing behind the vehicle he heard Darden rack a semi-automatic handgun, charges read. Morgan then reached into the passenger side of Thompson’s vehicle and stole the marijuana, police said.
Darden shot Thompson at close range through the driver’s side window, police said.
Thompson was able to drive a short distance from the scene before passing out at the wheel.
He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Darden, Morgan and Robinson fled the scene, but were identified through surveillance footage.
Police tracked down Morgan and Robinson and arrested them within days, but were unable to locate Darden.
All three men are charged with criminal homicide and criminal conspiracy.
Morgan and Robinson remain at Lackawanna County Prison without bail. They are awaiting trial.