Murder Suspect Tracked Down in New York: Police

MANASSAS, VA — A third suspect in the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old man in March has been apprehended in Long Island, N.Y., according to the Prince William County police.

Alexander Esau Flores-Aguilar, 20, was arrested at a residence in Hempstead, N.Y., following an intensive three-day search by law enforcement authorities, the Prince William police said. Flores-Aguilar, of the 11200 block of Golden Leaf Circle in Manassas, has been charged with murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and attempted robbery. He's in custody in New York and awaiting extradition to Virginia.

Two other suspects were previously arrested by Prince William police on charges stemming from the March 18 shooting of Javiel Rosado Santiago, of Manassas. Santiago was found dead at the scene of a botched robbery in the 7900 block of Blue Gray Circle, near Sudley Road (Route 234) north of the city.

Earlier this week, Prince William police detectives received a tip on the whereabouts of Flores-Aguilar and worked with the New York offices of the FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to track him down. The police departments of Nassau and Suffolk counties, both on Long Island, also aided in the search, the Prince William police said.

After three days of extensive searching, Flores-Aguilar was located and arrested without incident.

On March 19, the Prince William police arrested two other suspects in the shooting. They identified one suspect as Carlos Fernando Lazo-Rivera; the other suspecxt has been identified as a juvenile, and his name has not been released.

The police said that Santiago had made arrangements with the three suspects to meet with them on March 18 in the 7900 block of Blue Gray Circle to conduct a drug deal. When they met, the juvenile suspect tried to rob Santiago.

At that point, another suspect fired his gun towards Santiago, striking the juvenile suspect in the hand. When Santiago attempted to flee on foot, he was shot, the police said.

Officers arrived in the area and located the juvenile suspect, who was taken to a local hospital for treatment. While checking the area, they found Santiago, who was later pronounced dead as a result of his injuries, the police said.