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GREENSBORO — A felon with a history of assault has been arrested in connection with the death of an N.C. A&T student in April 2008.

Jaguar Wright, 23, was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Springfield, Mass., in the death of Derek Carl Eaddy Hodge II, 21, a sophomore from Wendell.

Hodge was killed April 26, 2008, at his home at 1718 Kay St. when police said he walked in on a burglary. The burglar fired a round that struck Hodge in the head and killed him.

Police have said they believe the burglary was drug-related.

At his arraignment in Massachusetts, Wright’s attorney told a judge his client is not guilty and did not kill Hodge, according to The Republican newspaper in Springfield. He faces charges of first-degree murder.

Wright was most recently jailed in North Carolina for four months in 2007 on charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. He was released and placed on probation.

The state Department of Correction Web site lists him as an absconder, meaning he failed to keep proper contact with his probation officer.

Greensboro police said a detective in the case is in Massachusetts and took part in the arrest. It is unclear when Wright will be brought back to North Carolina.

“We have worked every lead in this case and due to good investigations and good investigative techniques — our forensics unit and the SBI unit in Raleigh — we were able to develop forensic evidence that led us to this suspect,” said police Capt. Janice Rogers.

“If it weren’t for the help of the U.S. Marshals, we’d still be looking for the suspect.”

Rogers said police do not anticipate any other arrests in the 2008 homicide.

The Springfield newspaper reported that a tip made to law enforcement in North Carolina led to Wright’s arrest, although city police would not confirm that Wednesday.

Rogers said to her knowledge, no one will be collecting the reward money offered in the case.

Messages left for Hodge’s family were not returned Wednesday.

In his obituary, Hodge’s family said he “wasn’t the kind of son that would give carnations; he would give you roses and tulips. He loved the finer things in life and dressed to impress. He had that swagger all his life.”

Hodge, a marketing major, planned to become a “self-made millionaire by his 40th birthday,” the obituary said.

Hodge’s homicide was the first of two homicides victimizing A&T students in the past two years.

In January, Dennis Hayle, 22, was fatally shot outside his apartment near campus. The case remains unsolved.

Anyone with information in the case is urged to call Crimestoppers at 373-1000.

Staff writer Ryan Seals contributed to this report.

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin@news-record.com