Suspect in Fatal Santa Monica Shooting Arrested in Mexico After Seven-Month Search

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - A man accused of fatally shooting a 22-year-old during a vehicle confrontation in Santa Monica in late March was arrested in Mexico nearly seven months later and returned to the United States to face murder and attempted murder charges, the Santa Monica Police Department announced this week.

Manuel Reyes, 26, of Adelanto, was taken into custody on Oct. 20 in the Mexican state of Nayarit, on the country's Pacific coast. The arrest followed a coordinated operation involving Santa Monica detectives, the U.S. Marshals Service's Mexico Foreign Field Office, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Reyes was subsequently returned to the United States and booked into the Santa Monica Police Department Jail on Oct. 22.

He was arraigned Monday, Oct. 26, at the Airport Courthouse on one count of murder under California Penal Code Section 187(a) and one count of attempted murder under Sections 664 and 187. Bail was set at $3 million. Authorities have not publicly identified the alleged victim in the attempted murder count or provided further details on that charge.

The March 28 Shooting

The shooting occurred around 10:30 p.m. on March 28 near Fourth Street and Olympic Drive, a short distance from Santa Monica Police Department headquarters, City Hall, and the Santa Monica Freeway. Officers responding to reports of a shooting found an adult man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

Intersection of 4th Street and Olympic Blvd, file photo.

The victim was identified as Yair Segundo Cruz, 22, by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, according to earlier reporting. Investigators determined that an altercation between the occupants of two vehicles preceded the shooting. During the confrontation, a suspect fired a gun, striking Cruz before fleeing the area. Police have not publicly established a motive or released additional details about what sparked the dispute.

Investigation and Arrest

Following an investigation that stretched from March into October, Santa Monica detectives identified Reyes as the suspect. He was located and arrested in Nayarit through the multi-agency effort. The department has not disclosed when Reyes traveled to Mexico, whether he had been living there since the shooting, or other circumstances surrounding his time in the country prior to the arrest.

The Santa Monica Police Department thanked its law enforcement partners for their assistance in locating and apprehending Reyes. The case highlights the challenges of investigating shootings involving individuals who leave the immediate area, particularly when international coordination is required.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective Lawrence Kayondo of the department's Criminal Investigations Division at 310-458-8931, or the Watch Commander, available 24 hours a day, at 310-458-8427.

Context and Next Steps

The arrest brings a high-profile local homicide investigation closer to resolution after months without a public breakthrough. The location of the shooting-near major civic buildings and a freeway-drew attention at the time, though few additional details about the confrontation or the parties involved had been released until the announcement of the arrest.

Reyes is currently in custody. Future court proceedings will determine the path of the case as prosecutors move forward with the murder and attempted murder charges. No further information on the timeline for trial or additional evidence has been released.

The incident remains under active investigation as authorities continue to gather information related to the March confrontation and the subsequent efforts to identify and locate the suspect. Residents or witnesses who may have additional details are encouraged to contact the listed investigators.

This development comes amid broader public safety discussions in Santa Monica, where police staffing and crime trends have been points of local focus. The department has emphasized the role of partnerships with federal agencies in resolving complex cases that cross jurisdictions.

Further updates are expected as the case progresses through the court system. For the latest information, residents can monitor announcements from the Santa Monica Police Department or contact the investigators directly with any relevant tips.