In Los Angeles, Road Rage Murder Suspect Arrested After Foot Pursuit

A suspect of a murder and an attempted murder was arrested in Highland Park by the Los Angeles Fugitive Task Force. Juan Carlos Vigil, 26, an El Salvadoran native, was wanted for the shooting death of a woman and the attempted murder of the woman’s husband, earlier this year in Los Angeles. The crime occurred following a road rage confrontation between the suspect and the victims, who were visiting from out of the country.

Vigil and the married couple were involved in a disagreement while driving their vehicles sometime in the early evening of May 28 th, 2006, according to witnesses. The quarrel went on for several blocks in the vicinity of the Normandie/Slauson intersection in Los Angeles. Once the argument escalated, according to witnesses, the suspect is alleged to have driven his Cadillac SUV alongside the passenger window of the victim’s vehicle, and shot several rounds into the car. The gunfire struck the woman in the right side of the head, killing her. The man survived a bullet wound to his elbow. Vigil is alleged to have fled the scene in his vehicle immediately following the shooting.

A state of California warrant for Vigil’s arrest in connection with the murder and attempted murder was issued May 31 st, 2006.

The task force developed information which led to the Highland Park location where Vigil had been residing with a girlfriend. When members of the task force attempted to arrest Vigil this morning, he fled, and a foot chase ensued. Los Angeles police Northeast Division established a perimeter in the neighborhood in which Vigil was hiding and called in an LAPD canine unit to conduct a search. The dog successfully located Vigil in an apartment complex parking lot and members of the task force took him into custody.

Vigil will be held in the custody of the Los Angeles Police Department to await arraignment on the murder and attempted murder charges.