Steven Marlowe was taken into custody Saturday night by police in Lawrence, Kansas, Butler Township Police Chief John Porter said at a news conference. Marlowe is wanted in connection with Friday’s shootings in Butler Township, a small town north of Dayton
Authorities did not provide additional details about his arrest or the investigation. The arrest comes a day after the victims were found at multiple crime scenes. The motive for the shooting is still unclear.
Authorities described Marlowe as possibly armed and dangerous.
“Stephen Marlowe remains the primary suspect,” Butler Township police said in a Facebook statement Saturday. “We have no current information to lead us to believe that others are involved in these horrific acts.
“Following the shootings, it appears Steven Marlowe drove onto Interstate 70 and headed west,” the statement added. “At this point we believe he has left Ohio. Law enforcement agencies in multiple states have been notified and are on high alert.”
Butler Township is approximately 640 miles from Lawrence, Kansas.
Police responded to a report of shots fired shortly before noon Friday, Porter said, and all four victims died at the scene.
“This is the first violent crime in this neighborhood in a long time,” Porter said. “We are working to determine if there was any motive for this terrible tragedy or if mental illness played a role.”
Wendy Chapman, a neighbor of one victim, told CNN affiliate WKEF that the neighborhood is a quiet place.
“I would never, even in this neighborhood, ever expect anything, ever,” Chapman told the Dayton station.
Butler Township is a town of just under 8,000 residents nine miles north of Dayton.
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