NN murder suspect claims innocence

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - The same day Tyrek Allen appeared in court on murder and multiple other charges, he spoke to WAVY.com and claimed his innocence.

Newport News Police have been searching for Allen since February 21, for a triple shooting at 33rd Street and Marshall Avenue. He was also wanted for separate shootings in Newport News and the City of Hampton on July 22 that left one man dead and another injured.

Several tips on Allen's whereabouts came up empty.

But on September 13, 2012, a credible Crime Line tip led a tactical team to an apartment in the one hundred block of Traverse Road at 7:50 p.m. Officers on scene ordered Allen to come out of the apartment. About ten minutes later he surrendered without incident.

Allen was arraigned on one count of murder, three counts of malicious wounding, two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and two counts of use of a firearm by a convicted felon Friday morning, according to the Newport News General District Court.

Officers put out multiple pleas for media assistance in their hunt for Allen and even set up a billboard asking anyone with information as to his whereabouts to call police.

In a jailhouse interview with WAVY News 10's Andy Fox Friday, Allen said he saw the billboard with his face on it, but explained why he didn't just turn himself in at that point, "I was just 'hey, I'm gonna make them do their job. That's all it was. They kept putting all that stuff on me.'"

Video: Full jailhouse interview with Tyrek Allen

Allen's next court date has been set for Nov. 14.

Allen has been charged with the murder of Darntrelle Bell.

"I'm just sad," Belle's sister Darnika Bell said in tears. " I can't bring him back."

Darntrelle's mother told WAVY.com she was working in South Carolina when her son was killed. She then took a leave from work for a month to help find her son's killer. When the search extended past the first 30 days, Trella Brinkley moved to Hampton and utilized Facebook to help spread the word about Allen.

"It's called networking, and that's what we did. We got him," Brinkley said.

Allen's next court date is set for Nov. 14.

His alleged accomplice in the Hampton West Queen Street shooting, Floyd Lee Taybron, is still on the run.

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Floyd Lee Taybron is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Callers can remain anonymous and are also eligible for a cash reward.