Authorities have arrested an 18-year-old Howard County man in the fatal shooting of a teenager near The Mall in Columbia’s food court last summer, ending a 10-month search across multiple states.

Investigators took William Thomas “Junior” Marshall III into custody in New York City overnight and arrested him around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der said during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

County police had been seeking Marshall in relation to the killing of Angelo Little, 17, of Columbia, a student at the Homewood Center in Ellicott City.

Marshall was a student at Oakland Mills High School, officials said last August, but had not attended classes last year.

Der attributed the break in the case to a social media post by the police department this week reminding the public that Marshall remained at large. The post generated a lead that Marshall was staying at an apartment in Brooklyn, Der said.

“There was true creativity and ingenuity that resulted in this apprehension,” Der said. “We aren’t immune from crime in Howard County, but if you commit a crime here we will catch you and bring you to justice, no matter how long it takes.”

Howard County detectives, New York Police and U.S. marshals traveled to the apartment and took Marshall into custody without incident. Marshall’s capture ended an exhaustive search that officials said involved hundreds of tips, troves of digital evidence, hundreds of hours of surveillance and travel to multiple states.

Police are still gathering information about why Marshall was in New York and whether anyone was helping him to determine if criminal charges are appropriate. They have not yet determined whether anyone is eligible for the $30,000 reward.

Authorities said mall surveillance video showed the suspect sitting with his head down in the food court on a busy Saturday evening until Little got up and walked to the bathroom. When he emerged, he was shot once.

The fatal shooting caused a stampede among terrified shoppers and kicked off a monthslong conversation in Howard County about safety at The Mall in Columbia.

Howard police shared news of Marshall’s arrest with Little’s family, who expressed feelings of relief, said department spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn.

Authorities are seeking Marshall’s extradition to Maryland.

Marshall, who was 17 at the time of the shooting but charged as an adult, faces charges in Howard County of first-degree murder and firearms offenses. Detectives are still investigating a motive for the shooting, but officials previously confirmed the two teens knew each other.