FBI Seeks SoCal Murder Suspect, Now Among 10 Most Wanted

LOS ANGELES, CA — The FBI added a Los Angeles man to its “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list Wednesday and offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of a 27-year-old man suspected of shooting another man to death at a San Fernando Valley barber shop.

With the addition of fugitive Omar Alexander Cardenas to the FBI'S Ten Most Wanted list, there are now two California fugitives targeted in nationwide manhunts. Cardenas marks the 528th addition to its list of notorious fugitives.

Cardenas should be considered armed and extremely dangerous, said Amir Ehsaei, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

“Omar Alexander Cardenas is an alleged gang member and should be considered a danger to those with whom he comes into contact,” said Amir Ehsaei, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI’s Fugitive Task Force, which partners with the Los Angeles Police Department, seeks and apprehends violent fugitives on a daily basis, and I’m confident that it’s just a matter of time before they catch up with Omar Cardenas. His addition to the list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives will only amplify the efforts by the task force and enable them to partner with the public.”

Los Angeles police detectives believe Cardenas fired several rounds from a semi-automatic, striking Jabali Dumas in the head at the Hair Icon Barber Shop in a Sylmar strip mall on Aug. 15, 2019. The FBI released video footage of Cardenas entering the shopping mall and then running away within seconds of the shooting.

A federal arrest warrant from the United States District Court in the Central District of California was issued for Cardenas on September 2, 2021, after he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He is wanted on suspicion of murder, according to the FBI.

“Jabali Dumas was gunned down by Omar Cardenas nearly three years ago, and there is still no justice for him or his family,” said Chief Michel Moore of the Los Angeles Police Department. “This murder occurred in a strip mall, where people come to shop and engage with their neighbors at the barber shop, impacting an entire community."

Moore said he hopes Cardenas will be brought to justice quickly now that he is one of America's most-wanted fugitives.

"I want to thank our partners at the FBI for adding this murder to their Top 10 Most Wanted list, bringing awareness to the violence committed by Omar Cardenas and to prevent this murderer from harming anyone else," Moore added. "Senseless acts of violence, particularly gun violence like this, needs to stop and we need the public’s help.”

According to the FBI, Cardenas is a member of the “Pierce Street” gang and may associate with the street gang known as “Pacoima Van Nuys Boys - Anybody Killas.” He has gone by the nickname “Dollar.”

Cardenas is between 5’6’’ and 5’7.’’ At the time he fled, Cardenas weighed approximately 240 to 300 pounds and had dark brown hair and a beard. Investigators believe that Cardenas may vary the style of his hair, including facial hair, and his weight may fluctuate. He is known to wear prescription glasses but may alternate his vision correction by using contact lenses.

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Investigators believe that Cardenas may have fled south of the border to Mexico but have not ruled out the possibility that he stayed locally due to family ties. He may be employed as a construction worker as he has been known to work in construction in the past, according to the FBI.

The FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list was established in March 1950. Since then, 492 of 528 most-wanted fugitives were apprehended or located. In 163 cases, citizen cooperation was key to tracking down the fugitives.

Cardenas is among two California men on the FBI's Most Wanted list. Federal authorities have been searching for Jason Derek Brown since 2020. Brown, who is accused of murder and armed robbery, and there is a $200,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

According to the FBI, Brown shot and killed the guard of an armored car outside a movie theater in Phoenix, Arizona in November 2004. He has a master's degree in international business, has worked as a golf equipment importer and speaks fluent French, according to the FBI. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Brown enjoys being the center of attention and has been known to frequent nightclubs where he enjoys showing off his high-priced vehicles, boats and other toys," the FBI said.

The FBI describes him as an avid golfer, snowboarder, skier and dirt biker who may carry a pistol and handgun. He is considered armed and extremely dangerous, according to the FBI.