STOCKTON (AP) — Stockton authorities have arrested an Abbeville man who had been mistakenly released from a Louisiana jail while awaiting trial on a first-degree murder charge.

According to an FBI news release Derrick Mitchell, 24, was arrested Thursday in Stockton, California. The Mitchell is accused in the Dec. 20, 2012, killing of Darrell Broussard Jr., 25, of Abbeville. Mitchell allegedly forced his way into Broussard’s home and shot him several times in the head.

The arrest happened after the Stockton FBI task force and Stockton Police Department received information that Mitchell was living in the area, said police spokesman Joey Silva. While conducting surveillance, they watched him walk out of a home and arrested him without incident.

It’s unknown how officials learned he was living in the area. Mitchell is being held in the San Joaquin County Jail on a fugitive warrant. He will be transported back to Louisiana after he waives an extradition hearing or has a hearing this week.

Tensas Parish jailers released Mitchell on March 1 after he completed an unrelated sentence for drug and battery charges. While awaiting trial, Mitchell was transferred from Avoyelles Parish to Tensas Parish, likely because of inmate overcrowding.

Law enforcement and the Louisiana Department of Corrections are trying to figure out how Mitchell was able to gain release. Abbeville Police said when Mitchell was indicted for first-degree murder they made sure the paperwork went to Avoyelles Parish.

“We sent a copy of the warrant, as well as the detainer, basically placing a hold on him that our agency wants him once he’s completed with his D.O.C. Time,” Detective Leland Laseter of the Abbeville Police Department said. “The new facility he was at was not aware that he was wanted for first-degree murder. When his DOC time was complete, he was released.”

Mitchell has a long criminal record. He served three years for a 2009 manslaughter charge and faces several other charges tied to the 2012 murder — possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal possession of stolen things and aggravated battery. He’s also been arrested for possession of methamphetamine, distribution of cocaine, aggravated flight from an officer, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, battery of a correctional officer, second-degree battery and simple robbery.