Two arrests made in Los Banos gas station altercation that ended in car chase, homicide

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a May 31 homicide that happened after an alteration at a Los Banos gas station, according to authorities.

Robert Luis Vazquez, 23, of Los Banos, who was sought in connection with the May 31 shooting death of Dylan Nicholas Garay, 25, turned himself over to police Wednesday afternoon, according to a Los Banos Police Department news release.

Police earlier this month had announced that Vazquez was being sought as the suspect in the case.

According to police, Alexis Garcia, 22, of Dos Palos, was also arrested Thursday at a Dos Palos residence. Police said Garcia was identified as the driver of the vehicle used in the homicide.

According to police, Vazquez was arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of murder and violation of probation. Garcia was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody at the Los Banos Police Department jail in lieu of $1 million bond.

Police said Vazquez was identified as the passenger in a Honda Civic witnesses reported seeing chase a Dodge Durango driven by Garay, following a disturbance reported at a Los Banos gas station.

Circumstances behind the homicide

The day of the homicide, officers responded to the 1500 block of West Pacheco Boulevard at about 5:10 p.m. for a report of a disturbance at a gas station, police said.

Police said the two parties involved in an altercation left the area in vehicles following each other.

The driver of a 4-door Honda Civic was then witnessed chasing the occupants of a black 2004 Dodge Durango away from the station and onto West Pacheco Boulevard.

According to police, a passenger in the Honda, later identified as Vazquez, fired shots at the Dodge as the two vehicles traveled along the highway.

Police said Garay was shot at least once, causing the Dodge to travel across eastbound traffic lanes before crashing and rolling in a field located near the entrance of Walmart.

Garay was pronounced dead at the scene.

This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 11:30 AM.