SUSPECT IN MURDER OF 12 YEAR OLD DURING CALIFORNIA FREEWAY
SHOOTING ARRESTED BY U.S. MARSHALS AND PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF FIST UNIT

Tucson, AZ – A man suspected of involvement in a 10 mile chase down two San Bernardino County California freeways that resulted in the shooting death of a 12 year old boy was arrested this morning in Tucson by U.S. Marshals and the multi-agency Fugitive Investigative Strike Team (FIST) in an apartment near S. Craycroft and E. 29th Street. Saul Juarez, 19, is accused of murder in San Bernardino County California for his involvement in the December 2006 homicide of Gabriel Garcia.

On December 11, 2006, Garcia was fatally wounded when the vehicle in which he was a passenger was chased approximately 10 miles down I-215 and I-15 by a SUV after an argument at a local McDonalds Restaurant. During the chase, Garcia was shot in the head and leg, and died three days later.

California authorities believe Juarez was a passenger in a Ford Explorer that had met with individuals in a Nissan Maxima at a McDonalds Restaurant off the I-215 freeway just outside San Bernardino, approximately 45 minutes east of Los Angeles. Authorities believe negotiations for payment in an illegal alien smuggling crime were underway when an argument erupted. The Maxima fled the restaurant chased by the Explorer. During the chase, the Explorer fired into the Maxima fatally wounding Garcia. Authorities say Garcia’s connection to the individuals in the Maxima remains unclear.

Investigators with the San Bernardino County Sheriff believe Juarez fled the area on or about January 13, 2007 when another individual wanted in the case was arrested. They requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals led Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force (PSWRFTF) who identified a number of Tucson addresses linked to Juarez.

Last night, local U.S. Marshals and FIST detectives began surveillance of the addresses provided by the PSWRFTF. This morning around 10:00 AM, Juarez was seen arriving at a relative’s apartment in the 1800 block of South Jefferson St. U.S. Marshals and FIST detectives arrested Juarez without incident inside the apartment.

Juarez was taken to the Pima County Sheriffs Department Headquarters on S. Benson Hwy for questioning and later booked at the Pima County Jail. Juarez faces extradition to San Bernardino County Calif. To face the homicide charges.

A photo of Juarez is available by contacting the Pima County Sheriffs Department.

For further information about the U.S. Marshals: www.usmarshals.gov.