Atlanta Murder Suspect Arrested On Cruise Ship

A fugitive wanted by the Atlanta Police Department on charges of felony murder and aggravated assault was arrested Thursday night by U.S. Marshals aboard the Jacksonville-based cruise ship Celebration.

Derron Williams, 29, was taken into custody aboard the ship at 7 p.m. as the ship was steaming for Freeport, Bahamas, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

After marshals learned Thursday that Williams had flown to Jacksonville and boarded the ship, the Coast Guard ordered the Celebration to stop before reaching international waters, officials said. A Coast Guard boat transported the federal agents from Mayport to the ship about five miles east of the mouth of the St. Johns River, where Williams was arrested without incident.

Williams was transported back to Mayport and booked into the Duval County jail pending his extradition to Atlanta.

Atlanta officials said Williams intentionally used his vehicle as a weapon to kill Weston Spratling after the two had argued at a party on Feb. 9.