Cristobal Natividad booking photo
SANTA CRUZ — Detectives with the Santa Cruz Police Department have arrested a third suspect in connection to the August 23rd homicide of 24-year-old Joey Shuemaker at the San Lorenzo River Levee, which was the city’s second recorded homicide of the year. 41-year-old local Cristobal Natividad is now in custody for his role in the crime.
According to investigators, evidence uncovered revealed Natividad to be in close association with both Nino Ruiz, the suspect shooter, and Jenessa Kic, Ruiz’s girlfriend who was also arrested as an accessory to murder.
A search of the residence at which Natividad was discovered turned up a shotgun registered to a relative of his. It is believed to be the weapon used by Nino during the shooting. No further information was released regarding the weapon’s discovery.
As of now, all suspects believed to have been involved in Shuemaker’s murder are in custody. Ruiz and Kic have already entered not-guilty pleas at their arraignment on September 8th.
Detectives worked tirelessly to interview several witnesses and pursue multiple leads until all suspects were on their radar. Both Ruiz and Kic, transients from Santa Cruz County, were arrested the night of the shooting.
