Police from Kent and San Diego arrested a 34-year-old Kent man Wednesday morning outside his home in the Panther Lake area in connection with a double homicide of two Navy sailors in 1993 in San Diego.
Kent detectives worked with the cold case squad from the San Diego Police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to find the man, according to a Kent Police media release.
Police identified the man as Leopoldo Chavez II. Chavez was expected to be booked later Wednesday at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent as a fugitive and to be held for extradition to California.
The local investigation started in February when San Diego detectives reached out to the Kent Police for assistance.
After re-opening the 1993 execution-style slaying of two Navy sailors in their city, San Diego Police identified Chavez as a suspect. He had since left California and Kent detectives were asked to follow up on information indicating that he might now be living and working in the northeast Kent area.
Detectives spent more than four months to locate and identify the man, who was living in the Panther Lake area. Panther Lake annexed July 1 into the city of Kent. Detectives learned the man had a family and was working at a local business as well.
Detectives monitored the suspect. Once his identity was confirmed, San Diego detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Chavez and came to Washington.
Police captured Chavez Wednesday morning as he left his home for work. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Kent Police Station.
“We are honored to have played a part in following up on the diligent work of the San Diego P.D. and NCIS,” said Kent Police Chief Steve Strachan.
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