Colton Harris-Moore otherwise known as the “Barefoot Bandit” was caught and arrested in the Bahamas after 2 years of running from the law.
Police were contacted by witnesses on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera who recognized the 19-year-old bandit. According to Bahamas Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade, Harris-Moore was caught on Sunday after a high-speed boat chase, which began at 2 a.m. Shots were fired during the chase, however Greenslade did not say who fired the shots. Harris-Moore was carrying a handgun.
Harris-Moore was flown to Nassau, Bahamas where he walked off the plane in shackles and handcuffed wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt, a bulletproof vest, short cargo pants and was indeed barefoot.
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He made his decent to the Bahamas after stealing an aircraft he allegedly lifted in Indiana. He has no formal flight training and flew more than 1,000 miles before crash-landing the stolen plane. He is being accused for several thefts in the Bahamas and according to Bahamian authorities he will be prosecuted for those crimes before returning to the U.S.
During Harris-Moore’s run from the law, he was able to gain 60,000 Facebook fan supporters. After he was caught, fans of the bandit posted messages of disappointment. Some even created T-shirts and tote bags with the words “Free Colton!” and “Let Colton Fly!”
The Barefoot Bandit has been on the loose since 2008 after escaping from a Washington state halfway house. He is accused of stealing cars, powerboats and airplanes. He has also broken into dozen of homes and committed burglaries across Washington, British Columbia and Idaho.
Pam Kohler, Harris-Moore’s mother, said he has had a troubled childhood, being first convicted at the age of 12 for possession of stolen property.
Victims of the crimes of his 2 year spree were happy to see Harris-Moore in custody.