Suspect Caught In 1998 Slayings

Posted: 11:13 am EST February 22, 2011
Updated: 11:28 am EST February 22, 2011

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- A man accused of killing two people 13 years ago was arrested Monday.

El Salvador native William Alexander Zepeda, 37, was wanted after a Lawrenceville restaurant was robbed April 6, 1998. After the robbery, the manager and an employee were fatally shot in the back of their heads, FBI Atlanta agent Stephen Emmett said in a news release.

Two brothers were charged in the killings. Gwinnett police hoped a $2,000 reward would lead to Zepeda’s arrest, but years went by with no sign of him. FBI agents finally tracked him down in Austin, Texas, on Monday evening, Emmett said. He said Zepeda was arrested during an immigrant smuggling sweep.

Zepeda was taken to the Travis County Detention Center in Austin, where he will await extradition to Georgia.

“Thirteen years is a long time for two families to wait for the arrest of Zepeda. Hopefully this arrest will bring closure for these families who lost love ones in this terrible crime,â€