U.S. Marshals assist SAPD with capture of wanted murder suspect

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: U.S Marshals assist Santa Ana Homicide Detectives in capture of wanted murder suspect

Synopsis

On 2/20/2009 at approximately 1224 hours, officers responded to a shots fired call at 100 W. Memory Lane with one victim down. Upon arrival, they found the victim, identified as 18 year old Julio Cesar Zavala lying on the ground in the Main Place Mall parking lot. He was suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper torso. Witnesses stated a second victim, who was in the vehicle, fled the scene on foot into the mall. Santa Ana Fire Department Paramedics responded to the scene and transported the victim to UCI Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

Several witnesses were located and interviewed. The investigation revealed the victim and passenger were stopped in a white Cadillac El Dorado in the westbound #1 lane of 100 W. Memory Ln. The suspects were in an older model black Jeep Cherokee and stopped behind the victim. An occupant of the Jeep exited, walked up to the Cadillac, and fired several rounds into the car striking the victim in the upper torso. The victim accelerated away and crashed through some planters at the Main Place Parking lot before coming to rest. After coming to rest, the vehicle caught fire and the unidentified passenger fled on foot. The victim exited the vehicle and collapsed in the parking lot. The suspects fled the scene in the Jeep. It was learned that there were a total of 3 suspects, all gang members. Two of the suspects were arrested shortly after the homicide while one, Christian Medina, eluded capture.

Detectives learned that Medina had fled to Mexico. With the assistance of the U.S. Marshals, working in conjunction with Mexican authorities, Medina was ultimately arrested and extradited. U.S. Marshals took custody of Medina on 5/26/2013 and transported him to the Santa Ana Police Station. Homicide detectives interviewed Medina and he was booked for murder with gang enhancements.

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Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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