A suspect wanted for the murder of a 34-year-old Springfield, Massachusetts, resident last year was arrested Wednesday in Mexico.
Julio Leiva was arrested late Wednesday night in the Rosarito section of Tijuana, Mexico, by members of the Mexican Federal Police, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. He was wanted for the Nov. 10, 2013 homicide of William Serrano.
Leiva was the ex-boyfriend of Serrano's girlfriend at the time of the killing. Prior to the shooting, the three had been together on a porch at a house party in Springfield along with some other people. Leiva allegedly left the party and returned a short time later with two other suspects and a sawed-off .22 caliber rifle. He allegedly ordered the girlfriend inside, demanded Serrano's cell phone and then shot him multiple times. Serrano later died of his wounds.
After the murder warrant was issued, Springfield Police, U.S. Marshals and Massachusetts State Police searched numerous locations in Springfield and Framingham, without success. During the course of the investigation, those agencies were able to gather information about his possible location in Tijuana.
Leiva was positively identified by Mexican officials and taken into custody. He has been deported to the United States and is currently in a San Diego, California, detention center, awaiting extradition back to Massachusetts.
