Crime & Safety
Man Arrested In Fatal Shooting Near Watsonville
Alvaro Melendrez was described by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office as a suspect in the death of 39-year-old Christopher Fagon.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — A 42-year-old man was arrested in Santa Cruz County last week on suspicion of homicide in connection with the shooting death of a man near Watsonville in early October.
Alvaro Melendrez was described in a statement by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office as a suspect in the death of 39-year-old Christopher Fagon, who was shot and killed on Oct. 3 on Larkin Valley Road, near Windsong Way, northwest of the city of Watsonville.
The victim was found unresponsive at about 7 p.m. by Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputies who were called to the scene for a reported shooting. Fagon was pronounced dead at the scene from his injuries.
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The Sheriff's Office said in a statement the two men knew each other. The case remains under investigation.
Melendrez was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on allegations of homicide and several firearm-related accusations, including being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to court records.
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He was ordered held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in a Santa Cruz County Superior Courtroom on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.
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