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Suspected Killer of Denver Officer Caught

By Megan McCloskey
The Associated Press

DENVER — A man suspected of shooting and killing a police detective and wounding his colleague last month was arrested in Mexico on Saturday, ending an extensive manhunt that also included investigations in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, Denver police said.

Four other people suspected of helping Raul Garcia-Gomez, 19, were arrested in Denver and Los Angeles, Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman said.

Gomez’s father, Mercedes Castaneda Gomez; a sister, Ayde Gomez; and Santiago Nicholas Hernandez, possibly Gomez’s uncle, were being held on immigration violations in Los Angeles, Whitman said. Federal authorities were investigating whether they could be charged with harboring a fugitive, he said.

In Denver, Jaime Arana was arrested for accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, authorities said.

Whitman said he expected more arrests in Los Angeles.

Detective Donald Young, 43, was shot multiple times from behind while providing security for a private celebration of a baptism early May 8, police said. Gomez had reported for his job as a dishwasher hours after the shooting but didn’t report for another shift after that.

Detective John H. Bishop, 35, was wounded in the shooting but was wearing a bulletproof vest and survived.

The officers were off-duty but in uniform at the time, police said.

Gomez’s car was found behind a Los Angeles home days later, and more than 200 officers began searching the area for him. Authorities also alerted authorities in Mexico, where Gomez has relatives, and along the border.

The authorities were tipped off to Gomez’s whereabouts Saturday.

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