ESCONDIDO — Authorities arrested and extradited an 18-year-old Escondido man accused of murder, according to police Lt. Ed Varso.
Javier Seda, 18, was booked into the Vista Detention Facility charged in the killing of 27-year-old Fabian Arellano, who was gunned down on March 16 near Escondido Boulevard and 9th Avenue.
According to Varso, Seda, a U.S. citizen, fled to Mexico after the shooting. The lieutenant said the killing appears to be gang related after Arellano was gunned down while crossing the street.
Varso said police are currently investigating the possibility Seda was not alone after fleeing in a vehicle.
In addition, Varso said it’s possible Seda had friends or family in Mexico, although he said it is not clear whether or not those suspected individuals assisted Seda’s escape from the U.S. After he fled, Varso said Escondido Police coordinated with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Mexican officials to locate and apprehend Seda. He was extradited last week.
On March 16, police found Arellano at about 12:30 a.m. with a gunshot to the head. He was transported to Palomar Medical Center where he died.
According previous reports from the police, a witness saw the victim walking south on Escondido Boulevard just before the shooting. Seda, meanwhile, was allegedly seen exiting a vehicle and firing multiple shots at the victim before getting back in the car and fleeing the scene.
He is being held in the Vista Detention Facility.
