The Associated Press
YAKIMA, Washington- A man sought in the gangland shooting of a father and his young daughter was arrested by U.S. immigration officials in California as he tried to cross the border from Mexico, police said.
Mario Gil “Gato” Mendez, 25, was caught Sunday at the border south of San Diego, Yakima police said Monday. He faces a charge of aggravated first-degree murder.
Police have said a ruthless upstart street gang looking to make a name for itself was behind the Feb. 20 execution-style killing of Ricardo “Ricky” Causor, 21, and his 3-year-old daughter, Mya.
Mendez, described as a gang leader, was the second person arrested in the case. Jose Luis “Junior” Sanchez Jr., 23, who police say pulled the trigger, remains in jail with bail set at $5 million pending trial on charges of aggravated first-degree murder.
No decision has been made on whether to seek the death penalty against Mendez or Sanchez.