Escaped Teen Wanted for Attempted Murder Captured in Reynoldsville After Jumping From Window

The search is over. Xander Ball, the 18-year-old who escaped from a Wheeling detention center last month while facing an attempted murder charge, was taken into custody Monday afternoon in the Harrison County community of Reynoldsville, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Ball was arrested at about 3:45 p.m. Monday at a residence near Sable Circle, the Marshals Service said. Investigators had been following up on tips from the public, and earlier in the day they positively identified him at the home.

A jump out the window, and that was that

As officers approached the residence, Ball tried to get away by jumping out of a window, according to the Marshals Service. He didn't get far. Officers took him into custody immediately.

A second person at the scene, Cannan Hitt, was also arrested on an outstanding capias warrant out of Harrison County, officials said.

The arrest was a team effort involving the U.S. Marshals Service, its fugitive task force partners, the Clarksburg Police Department and the Harrison County Sheriff's Office. Ball was booked into the North Central Regional Jail.

"The cooperation of all involved agencies, the determination of our investigators, and the public's willingness to assist directly led to the safe apprehension of this dangerous fugitive," said Terry Moore, acting United States Marshal for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Nearly a month on the run

Ball, who also goes by Xander Finley-Ball, escaped from the Wheeling facility on October 10. He had been held there in connection with a July shooting at the University Commons apartment complex in Star City that critically injured a man. Authorities have said he was a juvenile at the time of the shooting. He is charged with attempted murder in that case.

Last week, the Marshals Service's Mountain State Fugitive Task Force offered a $3,500 reward for information leading to his arrest and said he was believed to be somewhere in the Morgantown and Clarksburg area.

In the end, it was folks paying attention and picking up the phone that made the difference. That's West Virginia looking out for West Virginia.

Charges are accusations, not findings of guilt. Ball is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.