WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Police have found the fourth teen wanted in connection with a July shooting that left a 5-year-old Winston Salem boy dead. 17-year-old Santiago Rodriguez-Marcial was arrested in California.
Rodriguez-Marcial is facing a murder charge and fled North Carolina just days after the shooting crime, according to Lt. Greg Dorn of the Winston-Salem Police Department.
"We are looking forward to the justice system taking its course. Hopefully the family will see this to an end one day," said Lt. Dorn.
Back on July 6th, police say witnesses saw a silver vehicle come through Cole Ridge Circle. The teens in the car fired several shots that hit three apartments and a vehicle. One of those shots hit and eventually killed 5-year-old Alberto Rios Navarrette.
Winston-Salem police arrested an unnamed 14 year old, an unnamed 15 year old and 17-year-old Oscar Mendez-Rodriguez that night. But police later got a warrant charging 17-year-old Santiago Rodriguez-Marcial with murder.
Police contacted the U.S. Marshals when they realized that Rodriguez-Marcial had likely fled the state, which is protocol, Lt. Dorn said.
Winston-Salem police say they were notified September 5th at 9:30 p.m. that Rodriguez-Marcial was arrested with the assistance of U.S. Marshals and is being held in the San Diego County Juvenile Facility.
Rodriguez-Marcial is awaiting extradition back to North Carolina, but that process could take weeks, according to Lt. Dorn. He is being held in San Diego without bond from the murder charge, Lt. Dorn said.
If you have any more information call Winston-Salem Police at (336) 773-7700.