Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), working with Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) arrested two documented gang members who have been eluding law enforcement since 2021 for outstanding warrants originating out of Louisville, Kentucky.

Jerlen Lewayne Horton, originally of Louisville, and Chicoby Tryvest Summers, originally of Louisville, were arrested Aug. 22 by LBPD following a two-hour standoff at a Long Beach luxury high-rise apartment complex in California. During the arrest, a state search warrant was executed at the suspects’ residence with law enforcement seizing a firearm along with other evidence.

LMPD and ATF Louisville investigated Horton and Summers as part of a case focused on armed drug trafficking organizations operating in the Louisville area. Horton and Summers have been eluding law enforcement since Nov. 3, 2021, when they escaped during an attempted arrest in Kentucky. 

Stemming from that incident, Horton was charged in state and federal court for aggravated assault, as well as drug- and firearms-related charges. 

Summers was also charged in state and federal court for stolen property and firearms offenses. In addition, Summers is accused of cutting off his court ordered GPS monitoring device. 

The USMS Western Kentucky Fugitive Task Force obtained federal warrants for both Horton and Summers for violating their supervised release in this investigation and began tracking both men along with ATF and LMPD. 

Both Summers and Horton have extensive criminal histories and prior arrests for firearms and drug offenses. Both are associated with the Victory Park Crips, a street gang operating out of Louisville.

Both defendants are expected to be extradited to Kentucky.

“The arrest of these fugitives demonstrates ATF’s commitment to bringing offenders to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division. “If you use a firearm to break the law, ATF and our partners will ensure you are apprehended and brought to answer charges. I am grateful for the hard work of Louisville Metro Police Department, the United States Marshals Service and the outstanding support from the Long Beach, California, Police Department. We appreciate each agency’s commitment to keeping our communities safe.”

LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel and Deputy U.S. Marshal Matthew Peters of the Western Kentucky District echoed Morrow’s statements about the importance of partnership in keeping our communities safe.

“Keeping Louisville’s communities safe remains the top priority of the LMPD,” Chief Gwinn-Villaroel said. “Our partnerships with federal agencies assist us with targeting and removing violent offenders. These arrests are another step towards providing safe neighborhoods within our city and ensuring that we help mitigate the possibility of offenders creating chaos and dangerous environments in other communities. We are profoundly grateful for the professionalism and assistance of the ATF, USMS and LBPD.”

Deputy U.S. Marshal Peters added, “The Marshals Service is extremely pleased to have these fugitives in custody. This is a result of a lot of hard work by a great many of our local, state and federal partners. The Marshals Service will continue to pursue fugitives from justice, wherever they flee to.”  

ATF works with its local, state and federal partners to investigate firearms-related charges and provide resources to reduce violent crime in our communities. This case was initially investigated by Louisville Metro Police Department and ATF Louisville Field Division. The USMS Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, LBPD and ATF Long Beach Office were brought in to provide investigative support and assistance related to the nature of the federal firearm offenses and the capture of the fugitives. This case is being prosecuted out of U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky, by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl.

For more information, visit Louisville ATF and follow Louisville ATF on Twitter.

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