Livermore double homicide suspect caught in Mexico, extradited to face charges

(KRON) — A suspect who had been on the run for more than a year following a double homicide at a Livermore hotel was found and arrested in Mexico, authorities announced Thursday.

Yonston Vazquez, 31, of Oakland, was identified by the Livermore Police Department as the suspected gunman in the shooting deaths of a 26-year-old Oakland woman and a 21-year-old Hayward man. The victims were found shot on April 27, 2024, inside a room at the La Quinta Inn on 7700 Southfront Road.

Following investigative leads and the assistance of the FBI, Vazquez was taken into custody in Mexico around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, police said. He was extradited to the Bay Area and booked into the Santa Rita Jail on two counts of homicide.

Investigators in the case determined that Vazquez knew one of the shooting victims. Further details of a motive were not released.

While Vazquez was on the run, the police alerted the community that he “should be considered armed and dangerous.” The department released multiple photos of the suspected gunman in hopes of finding a lead to his whereabouts.

“From the first response to the final arrest, the professionalism and persistence of our officers, specialized units, and detectives were critical to bringing this case to resolution and ensuring accountability for the victims’ families,” Police Chief Jeramy Young said in a statement.

The deaths were the city’s first and second homicides of 2024.