Man arrested after fatally shooting suspected car thief
Tony Ortiz
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. - A man was arrested and booked for murder after police say he shot and killed a man who he witnessed stealing a car.
On July 24, around 12:20 a.m., Riverside Police Officers responded to the 9100 block of Magnolia Avenue for a reported car theft that just occurred. Police say the car thief crashed into parked vehicles and a dumpster before stopping.
Police arrived to find the man slumped over and unresponsive in a stolen Honda Civic. The alleged car thief, identified as 35-year-old Alex Arzate, was shot in the head. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to Riverside police, 41-year-old Tony Ortiz, witnessed Arzate steal the Honda Civic, then produced a handgun and shot Arzate as he was driving away in the stolen car.
Detectives located Ortiz at his home in Perris several hours after the shooting and arrested him. During a search of his house, detectives found several firearms, one of which was used in the shooting.
Ortiz was booked for murder and weapons violations, and is currently being held on $1 million bail.