FBI Increases Reward for Lakewood Fugitive to $50,000
The reward for information regarding Liban Abdulkadir Sheikh is now $50,000 as the hunt for the 2002 suspect continues.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Crime — General
The FBI has raised the reward to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Liban Abdulkadir Sheikh, a fugitive wanted in connection with a 2002 shooting in Lakewood. Sheikh is accused of forcing his way into the Meadowbrook Apartments and shooting two people.
Why it matters
Authorities are escalating efforts to apprehend the suspect, who has been wanted for over two decades for his alleged involvement in first-degree murder and other violent felonies. The increased financial incentive aims to generate new leads in a cold case that has remained unresolved since 2002.
A local arrest warrant was issued in 2002 for first-degree murder, assault, and burglary, followed by a federal warrant for unlawful flight. The investigation remains active with a new $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest.
The players
Liban Abdulkadir Sheikh
He is a long-term fugitive wanted by federal and local authorities for his alleged role in a 2002 murder and attempted murder.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
This federal law enforcement agency is managing the investigation and offering a financial reward to encourage public assistance.
The details
Sheikh allegedly entered the Meadowbrook Apartments on Nov. 27, 2002, using a semi-automatic handgun to shoot a man six times and a woman twice. He has since been linked to various locations including Seattle, Minneapolis, Columbus, Canada, and Somalia.
Timeline
Nov. 27, 2002: Shooting incident occurred at the Meadowbrook Apartments.
Nov. 27, 2002: Local arrest warrant issued for the suspect.
Dec. 9, 2002: Federal arrest warrant issued for unlawful flight.
2022: Reward amount increased to $20,000.
Oct. 27, 2026: Reward increased to $50,000.
Legal Context
This reward increase follows the pattern set by the FBI's Fugitive Task Force operations to keep high-profile cold cases active in the public eye. Such measures reflect a shift toward using significant financial incentives to break deadlocks in long-standing criminal investigations.
Residents should remain aware that the suspect is considered armed and dangerous, based on the nature of the 2002 charges involving a firearm. Those with historical knowledge of the incident or the suspect's potential whereabouts are encouraged to contact law enforcement.
The takeaway
Cold cases often rely on persistent public awareness to generate the final clue needed for an arrest. Residents can assist by reviewing widely shared age-progressed photos to see if they recognize the suspect from his past connections to the region.
Further reading
For more information on local investigations, visit the Crime — General page.
More information
Members of the public can submit a tip to the FBI through the official federal portal.
