http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_5011699

Second arrest in killing of 12-year-old
By Will Bigham, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 01/14/2007 02:05:07 AM PST

San Bernardino Country sheriff's homicide detectives have arrested a second man in connection with the fatal freeway shooting of 12-year-old Gabriel Garcia in December.

Luis Chavira, 23, was arrested in San Bernardino at 9:45 p.m. Friday on homicide and parole-violation charges.

Investigators recovered evidence that linked Chavira to a white Ford Explorer whose passengers fired the gunshots that killed Gabriel, sheriff's officials said.

But officials would not elaborate further on Chavira's involvement.

The driver of the Explorer, 43-year-old Pedro Escobedo, turned himself in to authorities Dec. 14 and pleaded not guilty to felony murder charges.

Escobedo's pretrial hearing is scheduled for Friday .

Three days before Escobedo surrendered, on Dec. 11, Gabriel was in a vehicle with Gregorio Zuniga Hernandez, 32, of El Cajon, an illegal-immigrant smuggler who, along with an associate, Juan Gomez, planned to deliver two migrants to their families for $40 each, officials have said.

Hernandez and his four passengers drove to a gas station off a 15 Freeway exit, where Hernandez met the occupants of the Ford Explorer to conduct the illegal-immigrant exchange.

The exchange was aborted after a heated discussion between the two parties, and the Explorer followed Hernandez's vehicle as he left the station and drove onto the freeway, officials have said.

As the cars approached the 215 Freeway, shots fired from the Explorer hit Gabriel in the head and leg. He died three days later.

Witnesses reported seeing at least four people in the Explorer.

The nature of Gabriel's connection to Hernandez and the others in the car remains unclear.

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Jodi Miller said the investigation into the incident is ongoing.