COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An FBI agent says the man wanted in a string of highway shootings in central Ohio has been arrested.

The agent said Charles McCoy was taken into custody early Tuesday at a hotel in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas police said McCoy wasn't armed when he was arrested at a motel near the Stardust casino, apparently without incident. But police still have to search his vehicle and the motel room he had checked into.

Police said someone tipped them after recognizing McCoy.

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Ohio Shooting Suspect Caught In Vegas

Authorities had been searching for McCoy after releasing his name as a suspect earlier this week in the string of highway shootings in the Columbus area.

Authorities said McCoy has been questioned -- but hasn't been formally charged yet.

The FBI said McCoy is being processed in the agency's office and likely will be transferred to the U.S. attorney's office. Authorities in Las Vegas will be coordinating things with Ohio authorities.

Man 'Knew Immediately' It Was Him

A man who tipped off police to McCoy's whereabouts said he knew immediately it was the right person.

The Las Vegas man said he had offered McCoy some pizza at the Stardust casino, and then recognized him from news reports.

Conrad Malsom said he and a friend were eating a large pizza at a sports gambling site at a popular casino, but couldn't finish the whole pie.

He told Associated Press Radio that he offered some of the leftovers to a man sitting nearby. Malsom said that's when he realized that the man was McCoy. He said McCoy looked "haggard," was unshaven and was wearing a black T-shirt and jeans.

He said McCoy told him his name was "Mike."

Malsom said he watched McCoy for a while and then contacted police. McCoy was later arrested at a motel.

Malsom said it appeared McCoy was reading USA Today -- which was featuring a story about him. Police believe McCoy had been in Las Vegas for about 24 hours.

He said when McCoy left the casino, he left a handwritten note behind. The tipster said he couldn't make out the writing, other than some sentences began with the word "You."

Mom Filed Missing Person's Report

McCoy's mother, Ardith McCoy, filed a missing persons report on her son Monday, hours before he was identified as the suspect.

He was considered armed and dangerous.

McCoy was charged Monday night with felonious assault after a shooting Dec. 15.

Ardith McCoy told police that she last saw her son last Friday at 4 p.m., according to the missing persons report. The report said McCoy was upset about possibly moving from the area, and that he had withdrawn about $600 from his bank account. The two live together within miles of where most of the shootings occurred.

His sister said she's "greatly relieved" her brother was caught without incident.

Amy Walton said she's also relieved McCoy didn't hurt himself. She said she knew the arrest would happen without incident because her brother is "easygoing" and a "passive individual."

When asked if the family thought McCoy could be capable of committing the shootings, Walton said, "absolutely not." She said it's a "great shock" to her family. Walton also said her brother didn't talk about the shootings as they were being reported, saying he was "never up on current events."

McCoy's brother-in-law also said he didn't think McCoy was capable of such actions -- saying that wasn't the person they knew. As for McCoy's mental state, a lawyer for the family said that's the subject of "future great debate."

The serial shootings at vehicles and buildings scattered along or near Central Ohio highways began in May, though most occurred since mid-October. Twenty-four shootings have been linked. Nine of them have been linked by ballistic evidence.

Witnesses to the last shooting, on Feb. 14, reported seeing a shot fired from an overpass by a clean-shaven white man in his 30s with dark hair, wearing a hat and sunglasses, and driving a small black sedan.

Police would not say why they think McCoy is responsible for the 24 shootings, including one that was fatal. But they did say that nine of the bullets came from the same 9 mm handgun.

One of McCoy's relatives called the serial shooting task force last week and said he may be involved in the shootings, Columbus TV station WCMH reported. Sources said the same relative turned over at least one gun -- possibly two -- to the task force. Tests were performed on the weapons. At least one of McCoy's guns was matched by ballistic evidence Monday afternoon to the serial shootings, WCMH reported.

Several bins of evidence were removed from McCoy's home Monday night, according to WCMH.

The Columbus Dispatch said McCoy's father gave police a handgun that may be linked to some bullet fragments recovered from the shootings.

The shooting McCoy was charged with Monday night occured Dec. 15 on Brown Road. Two shots were fired from a 9 mm handgun into an occupied home.

Bullets reportedly entered the home and were recovered from a second-floor bathtub by investigators the same day. Neighbors told WCMH that they heard three shots fired at about midnight. Two bullet holes were found in the home.

"I heard three shots. Bam! Bam! Bam!" neighbor Charles Hall said. "I pulled the curtain back, looked out and there was a car going south on Brown Road. It was dark. All I could see was taillights. But it was going pretty fast."

Martin said earlier in the investigation that the shooter may live alone, or has the freedom to come and go at all hours of the day and night. Martin said that if he is employed, he has flexibility to his schedule, WCMH reported.

He said the shooter has access to weapons, most likely a handgun, and may have shown the weapon to a close, personal friend or associate.

Witness accounts from the most recent shootings mentioned a gunman standing next to a dark green car of a more recent model.

Neighbors Surprised When McCoy's Picture Shown

McCoy's neighbors said he was quiet and they didn't know much about him -- until police showed his picture on TV Monday night. But some said McCoy had a temper.

Neighbors said no one really seemed to know McCoy, who moved into a neighborhood of tidy homes with his mother about a year ago. Most didn't even know his name previously.

One neighbor said McCoy used to yell at children for playing loudly in the street. Another said he also complained about loud music.

"I have twins," one neighbor said. "He yelled at them when they were outside playing. I called him out about it. Now I'm scared to death."

The neighbor said she never felt comfortable around McCoy.

"I'd see him looking out the window," the neighbor said. "He'd always watch me. I'm so scared now because, you know, my kids go to Hamilton, and that was the school that was shot."

The head of a homeowners group said McCoy's mother bought the house after it had been foreclosed. Neighbors said McCoy fixed up the place, and that it went back up for sale soon afterward. Other neighbors said McCoy constantly complained about noise.

A reward for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the shooter or shooters responsible for Gail Knisley's death on Nov. 25 stands at $60,000.

Anyone with information is asked to call (614) 462-4646.

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