2 arrested in Turlock homicide

SACRAMENTO -- Authorities early Thursday arrested two men suspected in the death of 26-year-old Roger Villanueva, who was shot in the back yard of a Turlock home May 25.

Police arrested Raymond Gutierrez Jr., 28, and Alvaro Saldana, 23, both of Turlock, on suspicion of murder, said Sgt. Steve Williams, a Turlock police spokesman.

Investigators said they believe Gutierrez and Saldana lured Villanueva, who had been from the Turlock area and recently had moved to Gilbert, Ariz., from a barbecue to the back yard of an abandoned home in the 200 block of Angelus Street about 6 p.m., before shooting him.

An official from the Stanislaus County coroner's office said Villanueva died from "multiple gunshot wounds to the head, neck, back and left lower extremities."

Authorities found Gutierrez and Saldana at a home in the 3300 block of I Street in North Highlands in Sacramento County after receiving a tip, Williams said.

He said the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department helped Turlock police investigators surround the home and, using a public address system, told the men to surrender.

About 2:40 a.m., Gutierrez and Saldana were taken into custody,Williams said. The men were held Thursday night at Stanislaus County Jail without bail.

Villanueva was an aspiring rap artist who performed under the name Smoke da Villain. He performed the Friday before his death at Sidelines Pub & Grill in Modesto.

The party during which the shooting took place was held in memory of rapper Moses Rodriguez Jr., who was shot and killed in an October 2006 double homicide on Kerley Lane in Turlock.

The day of Villanueva's shooting, about 100 people gathered at Rodriguez's grave in Turlock Memorial Park to celebrate what would have been the 28th birthday of the father of two. The party moved to Angelus Street.

Witnesses told police Saldana and Villanueva agreed to go into the back yard of an abandoned Angelus Street home "to settle something," Turlock police Detective Brandon Bertram said, then Gutierrez got involved and gunshots erupted.

Turlock police ask anyone with information about Villanueva's death to call Detective Bertram at 668-5550, ext. 6623. Callers also can leave an anonymous tip by calling CrimeStoppers at 521-4636.

Bee staff writer Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at rahumada@modbee.com or 578-2394.

This story was originally published June 13, 2008 at 3:49 AM with the headline "2 arrested in Turlock homicide."