Suspect arrested in ARDOT construction zone killing

Accused taken into custody in Chicago after 5-month manhunt

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

A Memphis man is in custody facing multiple charges after allegedly killing a construction worker during a high-speed police chase in West Memphis last September.

A u t h o rities con_rmed that 24-year-old Calvion Dayshun Thomas was arrested in Chicago on Feb. 17 following a routine traf_c stop. The Chicago Police Department took him into custody after discovering he was wanted by Arkansas State Police and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Thomas had been on the run for _ve months following the death of 36-yearold Justin Delgado of Lola, Texas, who was working in a construction zone near the I-55 bridge to Memphis when he was fatally struck. Another worker was also injured in the incident.

The fatal crash occurred on the night of Sept. 18, 2024, after West Memphis Police attempted to stop Thomas for a traf_c violation on East Broadway. Instead of complying, Thomas ed at a high rate of speed, leading of_cers onto Interstate 55.. As he entered the construction zone near the 3-mile marker, he struck Delgado, killing him instantly.

Following the incident, authorities launched an extensive search for Thomas, who was ultimately located and apprehended in Chicago. He now faces mltiple charges,, including _rst-degree murder, _rst-degree batteryand theft by eeing.

The Arkansas State Police and the U.S. Marshals had been actively pursuing Thomas since the night of the crash. With his arrest, he is expected to be extradited back to Arkansas to face prosecution.

THOMAS