U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa port of entry early Monday morning apprehended a fugitive wanted for murder who was hiding in the trunk of a vehicle to evade capture.
Jose Alejandro Gonzales, a 22-year-old male U.S. citizen, was wanted in connection with a Las Vegas shooting in April that left two men dead and two women critically injured. He had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest for homicide, with bail set at $2.1 million.
On Monday at about 2 a.m., a 57-year-old female driving a Grey Chevrolet Impala with a 28-year-old female passenger entered the port for inspection from Mexico. The Customs and Border Protection officer conducting the inspection observed the driver and passenger "acting suspiciously" and flagged the car for inspection, according to CBP officials.
CBP officers screened the car with a device similar to an X-ray and saw the outline of a person hiding in the trunk of the car. They opened the trunk, found Gonzales and removed him from the vehicle.
CBP officers used his fingerprints to positively identify him. After confirming the warrant with the FBI, CBP officers transported Gonzales to the San Diego County jail pending extradition.
The two women, both U.S. citizens, were released.
