Fugitive in drive-by slaying case arrested in St. Paul apartment
Last update: April 7, 2008 - 11:02 PM

Isai (Easy E) Flores was arrested Friday morning at an apartment building in the 1000 block of Burnquist Street in St. Paul, the Minnesota Fugitive Task Force said.

Flores is suspected of driving on Interstate 94 when another person in his car shot and fatally wounded Pedro Marcelino Simon, 24, of Fridley, in December 2006 while he was driving another car.

Jorge A. Quijada, 23, a passenger in Flores' car, flashed gang signs at Marcelino Simon, according to criminal charges. Marcelino Simon, who police said apparently had no gang affiliations and who didn't know Quijada, laughed off the gesture, prosecutors said.

Feeling slighted, Quijada shot at Marcelino Simon's car on I-94 near Hwy. 252 and hit him in the head.

Quijada pleaded guilty last May to second-degree murder and was sentenced to more than 32 years in prison.

Flores is charged in Hennepin County with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting a drive-by shooting. He also is charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Marcelino Simon, a former member of the Mexican Army, came to the Twin Cities to live with relatives in early 2006.

PAUL WALSH

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