Crime & Safety
Alleged Fugitive Charged In 2018 East Palo Alto Double Murder Appears In Court
Julian Santana Rico, 25, allegedly fatally shot two people and injured two others nearly eight years ago on Oct. 14, 2018.
REDWOOD CITY, CA — A man accused of shooting four people at a birthday party in East Palo Alto in 2018 and then fleeing to Mexico appeared in court Tuesday in Redwood City to face murder charges.
Julian Santana Rico, 25, allegedly fatally shot two people and injured two others nearly eight years ago on Oct. 14, 2018. The shooting occurred during a costume-themed birthday party held in a parking lot behind A1 Auto Service and Towing on Pulgas Avenue, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.
At 2:45 a.m., multiple fist fights broke out at the party, including a fight between Rico's friend and one of the victims, Lalo Sandoval. As fighters were pulled apart, Rico allegedly fired nine shots with a semi-automatic handgun.
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Four people were shot, including Sandoval and another victim Mario Mendez, who both died at the scene. The other two victims survived their gunshot injuries, although one needed to undergo 15 surgeries, according to police and the District Attorney's Office.
The handgun was left at the scene and Rico allegedly fled.
For the next nearly eight years, law enforcement would not be able to locate Rico. Police offered multiple rewards, as much as $20,000, for information on Rico's whereabouts.
Last month, Mexican authorities and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Rico in Mexico and extradited him back to the U.S. He is currently in custody at the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City.
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Rico appeared before a judge on Tuesday, charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. The judge denied bail.
An attorney through the county's Private Defender Program will be assigned to represent Rico. He is expected to enter a plea at his upcoming court date on April 28 at 2 p.m
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