San Diego police announced a huge break in a 14-year-old cold case Thursday: charges filed against a suspect accused of shooting and killing a man in Encanto in 2001.
The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said cold case investigators have identified Enrique Palomino, 37, as one of the suspects who allegedly killed Alexander Ceballos in the 900 block of Merlin Drive on Jan. 28, 2001.
The murder has remained unsolved for nearly 15 years.
The SDPD said cold case detectives recently resumed the investigation and traced Palomino to the murder. Turns out, Palomino was already in custody at the George Bailey Detention Facility on unrelated charges.
Detectives have now added the charge of first-degree murder for Palomino’s alleged involvement in the killing of Ceballos. Palomino is scheduled to be arraigned in court on that first-degree murder charge Tuesday.
According to police, Ceballos was killed in his car while driving with a friend in Encanto. When they pulled over, Ceballos’ friend was confronted by two men – one of whom police believe was Palomino.
One of the men pulled out a gun and fired toward Ceballos’ car. Ceballos tried to drive away, but he was struck by the gunfire, causing him to crash his car into a nearby building.
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Ceballos died from his wounds. His friend survived and was able to give police a description of the shooting suspects. They were described as young gang members between 15 and 18 years old, both wearing Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers. According to SDPD cold case records, the suspects allegedly yelled out the name of a gang before firing shots, adding, “This is what’s up!”
The investigation is ongoing and cold case detectives anticipate additional arrests in this murder case. Anyone with information should call the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
