Suspect in fatal Ceres bar shooting arrested at Modesto motel

The suspect in a fatal Ceres bar shooting was arrested in Modesto on Monday night.

Rigoberto Cisneros, 36, of Empire surrendered peacefully at the Apex Inn on Yosemite Boulevard after officers cleared the nearby rooms and used a diversionary, loud flash-bang device to draw him out, according to Sgt. Jose Berber of the Ceres Police Department.

Police believe Cisneros fatally shot 27-year-old Luis Malagon at the Latinos Bar on Mitchell Road early Saturday morning.

There were reports in the late afternoon that a vehicle associated with Cisneros may have been spotted in the Yosemite Boulevard area in east Modesto.

Berber said that at about 7 p.m., witnesses called law enforcement saying they saw Cisneros going into a room at the motel, which is just east of El Vista Avenue/Mitchell Road.

Ceres police and its SWAT team then converged on the area. They evacuated people from nearby rooms and used a public address system imploring Cisnernos to surrender, Berber said. He was the only person in the room.

They then used the flash-bang device, and moments later Cisnernos emerged.

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Berber said detectives recovered a handgun they believe was used to kill Malagon.

Investigators are trying to determine a motive for the shooting. Sgt. Danny Vierra said earlier Monday that no witnesses reported seeing the men arguing or even talking; they said the men arrived separately, Cisneros before Malagon.

Witnesses said both were sitting at the bar, a few stools apart, when the suspect stood up and shot Malagon.

Police ask anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact Detective Carlos Quiroz at the Ceres Police Department at 209-538-5638 or submit a tip to the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 866-602-7463 or 209-521-4636.

This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 6:22 PM with the headline "Suspect in fatal Ceres bar shooting arrested at Modesto motel."