Suspect Arrested in Mexico After 19-Year Hunt for Riverside Murder

Luis Contreras, accused of killing Alfonso Vera in 2005, was apprehended by Riverside police and federal agents.

Alfonso Vera was fatally shot in 2005 while protecting a woman from her boyfriend.
Luis Contreras, the alleged shooter, evaded capture for nearly two decades.
Riverside Police's Cold Case Unit reopened the investigation in June 2024.
Contreras was located and arrested in Mexicali, Mexico, in July 2024.
He faces a second-degree murder charge and will appear in court on August 2.