DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury has indicted a former fugitive wanted at the time in two northeast Ohio counties for aggravated murder and rape, charging him with four crimes related to firing at federal agents as they executed an arrest warrant on him.
On Aug. 25, 2025, federal agents located John L. Armstrong, 51, of northeast Ohio, in an apartment building on Delphos Avenue in Dayton.
According to court documents, federal agents with the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) surrounded the Delphos Avenue apartment building and positioned themselves at the front entrance, announcing their presence to the occupants and ordering anyone inside to clear the building. Armstrong allegedly opened the door to an upstairs apartment and identified himself to officials as “Deandre” seconds before pointing a firearm into the stairway and firing the weapon at the federal officials positioned below him at the front entrance. A Deputy U.S. Marshal and a Federal Task Force Officer received minor cuts from shrapnel produced from a round that hit the concrete just inches away from them.
The Dayton Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office SWAT teams were called to the scene, where a standoff ensued for approximately five hours. During that time, Armstrong allegedly fired three additional rounds at a drone being used by SWAT. Armstrong was ultimately apprehended and brought into custody.
Armstrong has a criminal history that includes felony convictions for aggravated robbery, involuntary manslaughter and kidnapping.
Armstrong is charged with assault of federal officers with a deadly and dangerous weapon (punishable by up to 20 years in prison), attempted murder of federal officers (up to 20 years in prison), discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence (at least 10 years and up to life in prison) and illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon (up to 15 years in prison).
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; United States Marshal Michael Black; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Dayton Police Chief Eric Henderson and Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth L. McCormick and Erica D. Lunderman are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Southern District of Ohio — U.S. Department of Justice press release.