Fugitive Wanted In 2009 Bridgeport Murder Extradited Back To CT

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A suspect who was wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of Harold Gantt in 2009 in Bridgeport has been extradited back to Connecticut, according to authorities.

Wanderson Marques, 46, was taken into custody Thursday by members of the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.

Marques was arrested by the Spanish National Police in August 2024.

"A strong partnership between Southern Europe and U.S. law enforcement is the reason this fugitive has been brought to justice," said Tiadora Josef, Bridgeport's director of Public Information, in a statement.

Bridgeport police took custody of Marques from marshals, and charged him with murder. He is being held in lieu of bail of $5 million, and is scheduled to be arraigned in Bridgeport Superior Court on Friday.

The murder occurred on Aug. 2, 2009, in the 200 block of Madison Avenue in Bridgeport. Police were called to the scene following a report of gunshots.

"When police arrived, they found the victim, Harold Gantt, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds," Josef said. "The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. Harold Gantt was 49 years old at the time of his death."

Police believe there had been "an on-going verbal disagreement" between Marques and Gantt, and both resided in the same apartment complex on Madison Avenue.

A couple of days after the shooting, now-retired Bridgeport Police Captain James Viadero obtained a warrant for Marques' arrest.

At some point following the shooting, Marques fled the United States, and traveled to several different countries before his eventual capture in Spain, according to authorities.

"We would like to thank the government of Spain, the United States Embassy in Madrid, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Connecticut States Attorney’s Office -Judicial District of Bridgeport, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Liaison to the Overseas Fugitive Program (Interpol) for taking the suspect into custody and facilitating his extradition back to Connecticut," Josef said. "A special thanks goes to Chief State Inspector James Viadero who is currently serving with the Connecticut Office of the Inspector General."