Man Wanted for Murder Arrested at Arizona Border

Wanted for 2004 homicide in Monterey County

PRUNEDALE—Nines years after Raul M Sandoval Jr., 26, escaped to Mexico to avoid prosecution in the homicide of Brenden Kaname Tsukimura, he was finally arrested as he tried to cross back into the United States.

Raul M. Sandoval, Jr.

Sandoval was taken into custody on Tuesday as he tried to reenter the United States at the San Luis Port border crossing in San Luis Arizona.  Agents with the United States Marshals Office from the San Francisco and San Jose offices assisted the Monterey County Sheriff’s office in the arrest.

The Monterey County Sheriff office issued an arrest warrant for Sandoval in connection with the December 12, 2004 botched robbery turned homicide in the Taco Bell Restaurant at the Prunedale Shopping Center on the 1700 block of Vierra Canyon.

Since the time of the homicide, Sandoval’s profile was aired twice on “America’s Most Wanted” and he was even placed on their website.  Sandoval was the last of the three suspects in this murder case.  The two other suspects have already been sentenced for the crime.

The Monterey County Sheriff office is not releasing any information on this case. “This case is still being actively investigated and no further information is being released at this time,” Monterey County Sheriff Office Commander Lisa Nash said.

The Monterey Sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Department at 831-755-3772 or their tip line at 888-833-4847.

Read More:

Monterey Herald: Suspect in 2004 Prunedale Murder Arrested at Mexican Border

The Californian: 2004 Prunedale Murder Suspect Arrested