Two San Diego residents suspected in the deadly shooting of a man in City Heights last month were arrested this week in Mexico, investigators confirmed.
San Diego Police Department (SDPD) Lt. Todd Griffin said Luis Dominguez, 21, and Abraham Torres, 20, were taken into custody Thursday in Ensenada, Mexico, in connection with the shooting death of Angel Sanabaria, 26.
The suspects were together during the arrest; the United States Marshalls Service and Mexican authorities aided in their capture, turning them over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the San Ysidro Port of Entry Pedestrian West Crossing.
There, a CBP officer obtained biometric information on the suspects via the agency's "Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System" (IAFIS), CBP officials said. The screening showed Dominguez and Torres were wanted by authorities in San Diego for homicide.
The suspects were then turned over to the SDPD. They each face charges of homicide and attempted homicide.
According to investigators, both suspects opened fire on Sanabaria and another victim, Joseph Luna, on the evening of April 1 in an alley on 3200 44th Street in City Heights’ Swan Canyon neighborhood.
After firing, Dominguez and Torres fled the scene. This cellphone video shot by a witness and obtained by NBC 7 appears to show the suspect as they ran away.
When SDPD officers arrived in the area to investigate reports of gunfire that evening, they found a trail of blood and evidence at the scene of the shooting, but no victims.
About 10 minutes later, Sanabaria – suffering from multiple gunshot wounds – went to the UC San Diego Medical Center to seek treatment. He died at the hospital a short time later. Luna, also seriously wounded in the shooting, sought help at Scripps Mercy Hospital that night, too. He survived.
Investigators said Sanabaria and Luna were in the alley when the suspects approached them and opened fire. The motive for the deadly shooting is unknown.
Sanabaria's was going to be a father. His girlfriend was seven months pregnant at the time of this killing. Sanabaria's heartbroken family described him as a caring, strong man who wanted a better future and was trying to change for his unborn child.The victim's family said they would fight for justice in this case.
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The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can reach out to the SDPD’s Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
