MODESTO -- Two men have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 25-year-old Modesto man last month in the airport neighborhood, Stanislaus County sheriff's detectives announced Thursday.
Authorities arrested Kraig Palacio, 20, of Modesto and Jose Cazares, 18, of Turlock. They earlier had named Palacio as a "person of interest" in the Dec. 21 death of Bradley Mather. His body was found on the sidewalk in front of a home in the 300 block of Santa Rita Avenue.
Neighbors said at the time that it appeared Mather was shot several times.
Investigators had been looking for Palacio since he failed to attend a required meeting with his state parole officer. A warrant for his arrest for the parole violation was issued.
On Jan. 11, the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Apprehension Team of Sacramento found Palacio at a home in the 200 block of Clifford Avenue in Turlock, the Sheriff's Department said in a news release. The team notified homicide detectives, who obtained a search warrant for the home.
Federal agents believed Palacio was armed and dangerous, so they called in the Turlock police SWAT team to help serve the warrant. As officers waited, they saw a vehicle leave. They stopped the car and detained two men inside, one of whom was Cazares.
Officers then served the search warrant and Palacio surrendered peacefully, authorities said.
Cazares originally was arrested on a charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition. The man with him in the car was released. After interviewing Palacio and Cazares, detectives developed information to arrest both in the homicide, sheriff's officials said.
Records show Cazares is being held at the Stanislaus County Jail with bail set at $2 million. Palacio is being held without bail.
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