Man sought in ’05 killing is seized in Mexico

Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.
CRIME WATCH

SAN DIEGO: A driver suspected of fatally shooting a passenger in another vehicle during a confrontation in 2005 has been arrested after being captured last week in central Mexico, San Diego police said yesterday.

Alexander Antunez, 22, was booked Tuesday night into San Diego County Jail on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

Antunez is accused of fatally shooting Valentin Madrigal, 23, and wounding another man, said San Diego police Lt. Kevin Rooney.

The incident occurred April 28, 2005, when the men in two vehicles got into a confrontation near Euclid Avenue and Guymon Street in southeastern San Diego.

As both vehicles waited in the left-turn lane to Guymon Street, an occupant of the victim’s vehicle got out and smashed the back window of Antunez’s vehicle, Rooney said.

Then, as the victim’s vehicle pulled around to pass the suspect’s vehicle, police say Antunez fired several gunshots, striking the driver and Madrigal, the passenger.

Madrigal died in the car.

Detectives learned that the shooting was the last in a series of confrontations between Antunez and Madrigal.

Antunez, then 18, fled to Mexico, where he has lived and raised a family for four years, Rooney said.

The break in the case came when detectives recently learned Antunez’s address in Morelia, Mexico, and notified the U.S. Marshals Service.

Mexican authorities arrested him Dec. 23.

An arraignment has been set for today in San Diego Superior Court.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009 ... ed-mexico/