The murder fugitive nicknamed "Moo Cow" whose face has loomed over local highways on billboards was captured Thursday afternoon in Nebraska.

John L. "Moo Cow" Harris, 24, of Parkfield Terrace, has been on the run since mid-January. He was charged with the first-degree murder of Sanchez Garner, 29, found Jan. 11 in the 100 block of Amelia, also in the Parkfield Terrace neighborhood between Centreville and Cahokia.

Harris' arrest was confirmed by U.S. Marshal Don Slazinik. Slazinik said Harris initially lied about his identity but was arrested without additional incident.

Harris and Garner had been feuding and were connected to rolling shoot-outs that had been happening in Cahokia before Garner was murdered.

Both Garner and Harris were named in other cases as potential suspects or witnesses. In 2006 Garner was convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon and had completed two years of probation for it. In 2002 he was convicted of a burglary and was sentenced to probation.

Harris, before fleeing the area, had an unlawful use of a weapon charge pending against him in St. Clair County.

"Moo Cow" became well-known as the "armed and dangerous" face on billboards across the region after CrimeStoppers arranged for the messages. CrimeStoppers' director, Lisa Pisciotta, said she was unsure whether tips from the public were used to find Harris.

"I think, though, that the U.S. Marshals Service located him on their own," she said.

Contact reporter Carolyn P. Smith at 618-239-2503.