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A nationwide manhunt is underway for four people accused of beating a Vermont man to death in May. The suspects range in age from 21 to 25 and are wanted on suspicion of second-degree murder. VPC
People at the Pride Center of Vermont in Burlington hold a portrait of Amos Beede on Tuesday, May 31, 2016. Beede, a transgender person from Milton, died on Sunday after being beaten on May 23.(Photo: GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS)
BURLINGTON, Vt. —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Four<span style="color: Red;">*</span>people accused of murder in the beating death of a transgender man in Burlington were arrested late Thursday in San Diego following a nationwide manhunt, police in California confirmed.
The four suspects, whom Burlington police identified publicly Thursday afternoon, were wanted on suspicion of second-degree murder in the May 23 assault on<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Amos Beede, 38, of Milton. Beede died at the hospital six days after the attack at a homeless camp near the Pine Street Barge Canal.
San Diego authorities were following leads and tips that Burlington police provided when detectives found the suspects — two men and two women in their 20s from Vermont — near a park in a part of the Southern California city<span style="color: Red;">*</span>known as Ocean City, Sgt.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Michael Tansey told the Burlington Free Press less than two hours after the arrests were made at about 10 p.m. ET.
“They’ll be held, and then Vermont authorities will be bringing charges and seeking extradition from San Diego to Vermont,” Tansey said.
The suspects were being booked late Thursday and had yet to have lawyers assigned or to appear in court, the sergeant said.
The arrests came two days after<span style="color: Red;">*</span>one of the members of the group was arrested on suspicion of assaulting another in Roswell, N.M.,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— but he was released before the authorities there knew the individuals were wanted for murder.
Murder suspects Jordan Paul (clockwise from top left), Allison Gee, Myia Barber and Erik Averill. The four were arrested late Thursday in San Diego, police there confirmed.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: COURTESY)
The suspects, all Vermont residents, are:
•<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Erik Averill, 21.
•<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Myia Barber, 22.
•<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Allison Gee, 25.
•<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Jordan Paul, 21.
Police last week called Averill and Barber persons of interest in the case.
Chief Brandon del Pozo did not immediately respond to a question late Thursday night about the arrests, but in an email to Vermont media, he said a news conference would take place at 10 a.m. Friday "to discuss the Amos Beede homicide, take questions, and relate any recent developments."
A motive for the attack on Beede was not disclosed. Police said the four "acted in concert" to assault the victim.
Burlington police said after the assault they were investigating if any connection existed between Beede's transgender status and the attack. Police initially called the beating a "possible bias incident" but later backed off that assessment.
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Averill was taken into custody Tuesday in Roswell on allegations of assaulting Barber, his "intimate partner," according to Burlington police, but was "released prior to investigators learning their whereabouts and requesting that they be held."
Beede was attacked May 23 near the Pine Street Barge Canal and suffered brain injuries, blunt-force trauma to the head and facial fractures. He died six days later at the University of Vermont Medical Center.
“Amos lived a complicated life. He had his share of hard times. Maybe because of this, he was a loving and caring person, especially to those who lived in the margins of society.”
Amos Beede's family, in a statement
Beede's loved ones said they are distraught over his killing.
"The horrific, brutal attack that led to his death has had a tremendous impact on our family," relatives said in a statement issued through the Pride Center of Vermont. "We are heartbroken. A big piece of our lives has been ripped away from us way too soon."
The Pride Center has scheduled a community memorial service for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Perkins Pier on the Burlington Waterfront "to remember, grieve and celebrate Amos Beede's life."
"Amos lived a complicated life," Beede's family said. "He had his share of hard times. Maybe because of this, he was a loving and caring person, especially to those who lived in the margins of society. From the performers on Church Street to the homeless people living in the encampments, Amos was a friend to so many people."
The statement continued: "He went to the homeless camp quite often to support others who needed help. Sometimes he mentored folks there and listened to them when they were at their wit's end. We are devastated to think that someone or some group of people could do such harm to someone who helped so many."
Beede's loved ones said his transgender status "was a really important part of his life. Amos came out to us about being transgender a year and a half ago. When he talked with us about his transition he said, 'I just want everyone to get it.' Sometimes we stumble over our words when we talk about him, but our hearts are filled with only love for him. We miss him terribly. Not knowing the truth behind this brutal attack has left us feeling hopeless."
Follow Adam Silverman on Twitter: @wej12
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