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. |