‘Chemical agents’ used to arrest Kansas murder suspect in hiding for months: official

A Salina murder suspect in an apparent domestic violence killing has been arrested after three months of hiding from law enforcement.

Officers had to use “chemical agents” before Nelson Gerrod Hull III surrendered Wednesday, officials said.

Hull, 35, of Salina, had been wanted on a Saline County warrant issued Feb. 26 for first-degree murder and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was arrested exactly three months after the warrant was issued. The U.S. Marshals Service had been involved in the case for the past three weeks.

Officers determined that Hull was likely hiding out in Salina, and narrowed their search in on a home in the 500 block of East Stimmel.

The Salina Police Department SWAT team, Kansas Highway Patrol and federal agents surrounded the home and tried to talk Hull into coming out. That went on for 2.5 hours, according to a news release from the police department.

“When these efforts were unsuccessful, chemical agents were introduced into the residence,” the release said. “Hull surrendered a short time later and was taken into custody.”

He was booked into the Saline County jail.

“Successfully working with state and local agencies is vital to our continued success in apprehending violent fugitives,” said Ronald Miller, U.S. Marshal for the District of Kansas, in a statement.

Hull was wanted in connection to the killing of 36-year-old Courtney Ann Hoffman, a mother of three who Salina Police Chief Brad Nelson said was “brutally murdered.” Her children are a 4-year-old daughter, an 11-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter.

Police believe Hull and Hoffman were dating.

Hoffman was found shot to death inside of her car at her home in north Salina shortly before noon on Feb. 23. A 911 caller had reported the “sound of gunfire and someone screaming.”

In March, police said they arrested 34-year-old Clarence Darryl Brown on suspicion of aiding and abetting first-degree murder, criminal solicitation and interference with law enforcement. Brown allegedly helped Hull flee after the killing, Sgt. David Villanueva said.

Hull has ties to Sedgwick County from 2009 on a couple of drug-related charges, according to Kansas Department of Corrections records.

This story was originally published May 26, 2021 at 8:30 PM.