Pine Bluff, Arkansas – A man wanted in connection with a homicide in Pine Bluff has been located and arrested out of state following a coordinated effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
Authorities confirmed that Thomaz Johnson (pictured right) was taken into custody in Fort Worth, Texas, with assistance from the Pine Bluff Police Department, the F.B.I., the U.S. Marshals, and additional law enforcement agencies in Texas. Johnson had been sought in connection with the killing of Jimmy Epperson Jr., which occurred on September 23, 2025, near 7th and Missouri in Pine Bluff.
Multi-agency effort leads to arrest
Officials say the arrest was the result of ongoing investigative work and cooperation between local and federal agencies. Johnson was found in Fort Worth, where officers moved in and placed him under arrest without further incident.
Also located with Johnson was Vanjarius Powell (pictured left), who is wanted in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County on separate felony warrants unrelated to the homicide case. Powell was taken into custody at the same time.
Both men are currently being held in Fort Worth while awaiting extradition back to Arkansas. Once returned, Johnson is expected to be booked into the Jefferson County jail on a charge of capital murder tied to the death of Jimmy Epperson Jr. Powell will also be transported back to face charges connected to his outstanding warrants.
Law enforcement officials expressed appreciation for the teamwork that led to the arrests, noting that the case required coordination across multiple jurisdictions.
The arrest marks a significant development in the investigation, bringing authorities one step closer to resolving the case that began last year.
