Suspect in North Las Vegas slayings arrested crossing Mexican border
A man suspected in a North Las Vegas double slaying is in custody in California after he was caught trying to re-enter the United States from Mexico.
North Las Vegas police said Jose Alejandro Gonzales, also known as "Smokey," was arrested by immigration officers at the San Ysidro border crossing in San Diego early Monday morning.
Gonzales, 22, was wanted in connection with the April 26 shootings of two men and two women in the 2000 block of Webster Street, near Lake Mead Boulevard and Civic Center Drive.
North Las Vegas police Sgt. Tim Bedwell said local investigators suspected Gonzales had fled to Mexico. He said he is glad Gonzales was nabbed at the border and will be brought to justice.
"It's very difficult to track them down when they leave the country," Bedwell said. "We don't know what prompted him to try and get back to the United States, but we're glad he did."
Police said Gonzales is responsible for the fatal shootings of 33-year-old Erik Armando Quezada-Morales and 24-year-old James J. Headrick.
The names of the women, who were also shot, have not been made public.
Bedwell said one of the women was released from the hospital shortly after the shooting, but a second, whose injuries were more serious, was still hospitalized Tuesday.
Ivonne Cabrera, 31, was arrested the day after the shootings and booked on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and burglary with a deadly weapon.
Gonzales, originally from Mission Viejo, Calif., faces the same charges.
Bedwell would not comment on a motive in the shooting or the relationship between Gonzales and Cabrera because he didn't want to compromise the investigation.
North Las Vegas detectives traveled to San Diego to interview Gonzales and will request his extradition to Nevada for prosecution.
Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350. Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.
