'Gang Associate' Wanted in 2010 Murder Captured in Mexico, Deputies Say

RIVERVIEW, FL — The search for a 26-year-old “gang associate” wanted in connection with the 2010 shooting death of a man and the injury of his twin brother is now in custody, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Mario Mercado was brought into custody in Mexico on Monday, the sheriff’s office said. He was traced to Mexico by Homeland Security Investigations, the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media. HSI told Hillsborough detectives on July 28 Mercado was “residing in Mexico using two false Mexican birth certificates," the email said.

The federal agency worked with the sheriff’s office to provide the information necessary to get the Mexican government to bring Mercado into custody, the email said. That information was provided and Mercado was officially turned over to law enforcement in Brownsville, Texas, on Monday. He will soon be extradited back to Hillsborough County.

The crime that led to the lengthy search for Mercado occurred on Oct. 5, 2010. Deputies were called to a home in the 12000 block of Glenshire Drive just after 6 p.m. When they arrived, they found twin brothers suffering from gunshot wounds. Gregorio Santana, 23, was dead at the scene, the sheriff's office said. His twin brother, Felix Santana, now 29, suffered critical injuries, but was found alive.

“A few minutes later, deputies responded to the fire station located at Big Bend Road and Summerfield Boulevard where a third victim had arrived,” an email from the sheriff’s office said. That person, Christopher Sanchez, now 28, had cuts that were believed to have been caused by thrown beer bottles.

“The vehicle that the victim was driving was occupied by three other subjects who fled from the station on foot,” the sheriff’s office wrote in 2010. One of the men was identified as Mercado. Deputies were able to locate the other occupants of the vehicle, but could not find Mercado.

Witnesses later told detectives that a dispute between the brothers, Mercado and others broke out at the Life Saver store on Balm Riverview Road and Rhodine Road. That fight continued after the men left the area of the store and went to the Glenshire address.

At some point during the dispute, Sanchez was struck by a bottle.

“According to witnesses, Mercado then produced a semi-auto pistol and opened fire on victims Gregorio and Felix Santana,” the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies say the Santana brothers were members of the Latin Life gang. Sanchez was a member of the West Side gang at the time, the sheriff’s office said. Mercado was a “gang associate,” according to the sheriff’s office.

How soon Mercado’s extradition will go through remains unclear.

"Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is pleased to be able to leverage our vast international presence to assist our state and local partners,” Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa said in a statement. “As a result of the vigilance of HSI special agents and our partners at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, a suspected murder will now face justice. Our community is a safer place through the collaborative efforts of HSI, HCSO, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and our international partners."

Mercado faces second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder charges.

Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office