Fernando Herrera-Salas, 40, was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the United States, Mata said, adding that police believe he has been hiding south of the border since the slaying. The announcement of his arrest comes exactly 10 years and two weeks after the victim, Clemente Nulutagua, 29, was beaten and stabbed to death in the Crown Heights neighborhood, a gang area behind Oceanside High School. On Feb. 17, 2002, Nulutagua was chased and stabbed by gang members after he was trapped on the front porch of a house on the 400 block of Garfield Street, authorities said at the time. The attack happened shortly after the victim's brother was beaten with a beer bottle and a piece of wood, as part of a money dispute, authorities said. Fernando Salas fled to Mexico immediately after the homicide, and a warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest, Mata said. In September, Mexican police found and arrested Salas for the outstanding murder warrant, and held him pending extradition to the United States. On Thursday, U.S. marshals escorted Salas to the United States and handed him over to the Oceanside Police Department. Salas is scheduled to be formally arraigned on March 12 at the Vista courthouse, according to the San Diego County district attorney's office. Carlos Herrera-Salas and Jose Manual Garcia, two of the suspected gang members who took part in the attack, pleaded guilty in 2004 to voluntary manslaughter. The two men were sentenced to about 20 years in prison, according to authorities. Carlos Herrera-Salas is the brother of Fernando Herrera-Salas, Mata said.
0 comments:
Post a Comment