BELL GARDENS (CNS) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta Tuesday praised a Department of Justice crime analyst whose work helped solve a decades- old killing in Bell Gardens, and led to the arrest and sentencing of a suspect who had eluded authorities for nearly 30 years.
Authorities said Manuel Banuelos fatally shot his neighbor, Ernesto Tapia, on Dec. 1, 1996, following a dispute over mechanical work. Banuelos fled to Mexico immediately after the shooting, and the case eventually went cold despite an outstanding warrant, according to the Attorney General’s office.
Investigators later determined Banuelos had returned to the United States and was living in Arizona under a false identity, authorities said.
The case was revived when a DOJ analyst uncovered a key lead tied to a 2023 911 call in Arizona in which Banuelos used his real name and date of birth, according to Bonta.
When officers responded, he allegedly attempted to conceal his identity by providing false information and a fraudulent driver’s license, but the call helped authorities identify his location, authorities said.
Banuelos was arrested Oct. 9, 2024, by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. He was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced last month to 10 years in prison, officials said.
“Often times, the work that truly makes our communities safer happens quietly in the background, without headlines or applause,” Bonta said in a statement. “While those on the front lines don’t seek recognition, I am proud to acknowledge that it is this kind of relentless dedication and attention to detail that takes dangerous criminals off our streets.”
The case was investigated by the California Department of Justice’s Foreign Prosecutions and Law Enforcement Unit, which assists agencies in locating and prosecuting suspects who flee to Mexico after committing crimes in California.
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