Source: Santa Maria Police Department
On June 30, 2021, Santa Maria Police Detectives were able to track Alfredo Alaniz Jr to Las Vegas. Alaniz had been wanted in connection to the May 16, 2021 murder which took place at Lincoln and Mill and took the life of Mario Angel Merino Gonzalez, age 19, from Guadalupe.
With the assistance of the local authorities in Las Vegas, Alaniz was taken into custody without incident. A subsequent search warrant was conducted and the investigation is ongoing.
Alaniz was booked into a Neveda jail on murder pending extradiction back to California.
Santa Maria Police Detectives are continuing with this investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Santa Maria Police Department at 805-928-3781, ext. 2277 or the tip line at 805-928-3781, ext. COPS (2766).