Convicted killer Jeroid Price captured in NYC after 11 weeks on the lam

A convicted South Carolina killer — on the run for 11 weeks after a state court revoked his secretive early release — has been taken into custody in New York City.

Jeroid Price, 43, was hauled in around 11 a.m. Wednesday after a South Carolina resident tipped off cops that Price was staying in a Bronx apartment, South Carolina’s state law enforcement division said in a statement. 

“I don’t want to say it was peaceful but there was no force needed and he was apprehended without any event occurring,” South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said, Live 5 News reported. 

Law enforcement officials believe Price made his way through Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, New York — and possibly New Mexico — during his months on the lam. 

The murderer is expected to be transferred back to South Carolina to finish his 35-year sentence. 

When he’s back in the Palmetto State, he’ll be taken to the Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center until he gets permanent placement, the news outlet reported. As an escaped criminal, he won’t be extradited. 

Price was released from prison 16 years early in March after Democratic state Rep. Todd Rutherford — the convict’s lawyer — and prosecutor Byron Gipson cut a deal. However, they did not hold a public hearing about the agreement, triggering revocation of the release by the South Carolina Supreme Court in April.

When the newly released convict — found guilty a year after the 2002 fatal shooting Carl “Dash” Smalls Jr. at a Columbia, SC, nightclub — didn’t turn himself in, he was labeled a fugitive. 

The deal had been signed by Circuit Judge Casey Manning, who has since retired, despite knowing the Supreme Court’s ruling. 

“He was aware the Supreme Court had made its ruling,” Wilson said Wednesday. 

Rutherford released a statement following Price’s capture, suggesting his client is the one who’s in harm’s way.

“It is good to know Jeroid Price is safe from those outside who seek to do him harm,” Rutherford said. “Now he has to worry about those in government who continue to heap harm on him. While serving in prison, he helped the people of South Carolina — and his reward has been to have his life endangered by people seeking political gain.” 

Price had been sprung early for good behavior — including reporting that an inmate serving a life sentence had escaped a facility, and for protecting two prison guards during attacks, according to USA Today. 

But officials became concerned by the number of years sliced off his sentence for the good deeds — and that there was no record of his release. Justices were upset the deal was made behind the backs of Smalls’ parents and the deputies who originally investigated the murder, USA Today reported. 

Rutherford had argued the deal was kept under wraps to avoid any injury to Price by other inmates. 

But Smalls’ family celebrated Price’s return to prison, with his father describing Wednesday as a “great day,” adding: “We’re feeling good, thankful and grateful to law enforcement.”

 It is unclear if Price will face additional charges for failing to turn himself in.