What term describes an individual avoiding a lawful apprehension?

The term that accurately describes an individual avoiding lawful apprehension is "fugitive." A fugitive is someone who has escaped from a place or is running away, particularly from the law. This aligns with the definition, as a fugitive actively seeks to evade law enforcement to avoid arrest and face legal consequences.

The other terms do not specifically capture the essence of an individual who is intentionally avoiding capture. A wanted suspect refers to someone who is being sought by authorities in connection with a crime but does not necessarily imply they are evading capture at that moment. An evasive suspect might imply a person who is attempting to avoid law enforcement but is not a commonly used term in legal contexts, making it less precise. The term criminal broadly describes someone who has committed a crime but does not specifically denote their current status in relation to law enforcement. Therefore, fugitive is the most precise term regarding the act of avoiding lawful apprehension.