Murder Suspect Arrested at the Border

Los Angeles: A murder suspect who has been on the run for over a year was nabbed at the border.

On Sunday, November 16, 2008, at around 12:30 p.m., Guadalupe Torres Rangel, aka "Barrios," age 41, was taken into custody after being caught re-entering the United States at the Mexico Border, in the eastern San Diego County town of Dulzura by United States Customs and Border Protection personnel.

Rangel had been charged with murder, attempted murder, and extortion by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for his role in the September 15, 2007 shooting death of a 23 day old baby and the critical wounding of a street vendor in the area of MacArthur Park.  The shooting was part of ongoing extortions of local street vendors by the 18th Street gang.

Robbery- Homicide Division, Gang Homicide Detectives follow-up investigation, coupled with information provided by members of the community, led to the identification of the suspects involved in this crime. Seven of the eight defendants charged with this murder have been arrested and remain in custody.  

The lone outstanding fugitive is Juvenal Cardenas Mejia, aka "Atlas."   The investigators are currently continuing their efforts to locate this individual, as well as additional potential witnesses and/or suspects involved in this case.

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is asked to call Robbery-Homicide Division, Detectives David Holmes or Laura Evens, at 213-485-2531.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org.  All tips will remain anonymous.