Just a month shy of the nine-year anniversary of Adrian Carranza’s homicide, police arrested the man they believe killed him, the Salinas Police Department announced Aug. 1.
Carranza, 24, was shot and killed in the 2100 block of Perez Street over Labor Day weekend in 2008. His death was Salinas’ 19th homicide of the year.
Two other men were shot and injured during the shooting, which police called gang-related at the time.
Police later identified a suspect, Juan Antonio Cervantes of Salinas. A warrant was issued for his arrest, but he proved elusive.
That is until the night of Sunday, July 30, when officers conducting a walk-through of a restaurant and bar in the 300 block of Main Street spotted Cervantes, 28.
Salinas Police Cmdr. Stan Cooper says it was good police work and a bit of luck that led to the arrest.
The two officers who were doing the walk-through just happened to have had experience with Cervantes in the past, who has an extensive arrest record, Cooper says.
When the two spied Cervantes they said to each other, "'Isn't that? Yeah it is, let’s go grab him,'" says Cooper.
He was taken into custody without incident and was later booked into Monterey County jail for the outstanding no-bail warrant.
Cervantes is charged with one count of homicide, two counts of attempted homicide and gang enhancements.