Phoenix murder suspect arrested in Mexico

by Brittany Smith - Jun. 1, 2011 12:28 PM
The Arizona Republic-12 News Breaking News Team

The U.S. Marshals Service helped apprehend a man in Mexico on Friday who is wanted in connection with the shooting death of another man trying to stop a robbery at a convenience store in Phoenix, according to the U.S. Marshals Service on Wednesday.

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The suspect, Manuel Salazar III, 21, was arrested by nearly 20 Mexican law enforcement officials at a construction site in Durango, Mexico, where he worked as a laborer. The threat of violence in the drug-cartel-ridden area led to the presence of so many agents, said David Gonzales, U.S. Marshal for Arizona.

Salazar is being held in Mexico City awaiting extradition to the United States, Gonzales said. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Salazar's extradition could take up to a year, a process made longer by paperwork, the involvement of a Mexican national, and the fact that a deal may need to be made between Mexico and the United States concerning capital punishment. Mexico doesn't allow capital punishment.

In February 2010, Salazar was suspected of trying to steal two 30-packs of beer from a Circle K when Lance Taylor confronted him in an attempt to help the store employees, according to Phoenix police.

Salazar listened to Taylor and returned the beer, but as he walked toward the exit, he pulled a handgun from his waistband and started waving it, yelling at Taylor and the employees, said Crump at the time of the shooting.

Authorities said at the time, Salazar continued out the door. He apparently saw Taylor's wife, who was opening the door. Salazar said something to her and hit her in the head with his pistol.

Taylor apparently came up behind Salazar. Salazar is suspected of turning and shooting Taylor as Taylor's wife and mother watched, according to Phoenix police. Taylor later died at an area hospital. His wife suffered a minor head injury.

Police suspect Salazar fled in a car with his girlfriend, Crump said Wednesday.

Investigators at the time suspected Salazar escaped to Mexico with the help of his family. Salazar's parents, Manuel Salazar Ochoa and Carlota Retana-Parra, and the suspect's sister, Claudia Salazar, were later arrested on suspicion of hindering prosecution in the first degree, a felony, according to court documents.

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