Three arrested in fatal Ceres bar shooting

Ceres police on Tuesday arrested three men on suspicion of murder, bringing the number of people accused in the shooting death of a 33-year-old man at a bar last year to eight.

Edgar Alvarez, 22, of Modesto and John Carlos Aguilera Jr., 21, and Richard Anthony Palomares, 21, both of Ceres, were arrested in connection with the killing of Derrick Farrow on Dec. 26, 2014, outside Runaround Sue’s Bar on Mitchell Road.

Alvarez and Palomares were arrested leaving their homes, but Aguilera was arrested during a search of his home in the 2000 block of Lunar Drive, which was conducted by the Ceres Special Weapons and Tactics Team.

Sgt. Danny Vierra said the other suspects’ homes were searched in January, but new information associated with video surveillance at the bar led to the arrests.

The three suspects arrested Tuesday will join five others who were charged in Farrow’s slaying in January.

Richard Isaac Monroy and Gabriel Enrique Gallardo, both 19, were arrested in January. Arrest warrants were also issued for Eric Padilla-Sanchez, Luis Emeterio Martinez and Jesus Prudente Ramirez, but all three remain at large.

All eight suspects are charged with murder and an enhancement of committing a crime for the benefit of the Norteño street gang.

Farrow was shot after a fight that started inside the bar. Ceres police officials have said it’s unclear what started the fight.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the homicide or the whereabouts of the rest of the suspects is asked to contact the Ceres Police Department’s Detective Arthur Hively at 209-538-5728, Detective Travis Hudson at 209-538-5743 or the Ceres Police Department Dispatch Center at 209-538-5712.

This story was originally published December 22, 2015 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Three arrested in fatal Ceres bar shooting."