Second suspect arrested in 2014 Merced homicide

A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the 2014 gang-related shooting death of a Merced teenager, the Sun-Star has confirmed.

Luis Angel Rojas, 25, was arrested Wednesday night in the 6800 block of Center Street in Winton by Merced County sheriff’s deputies, investigators confirmed.

Rojas was arrested on a warrant charging him with murder in connection with the May 7, 2014, slaying of 15-year-old Luis Angel Zavaleta, who was shot and killed May, 7, 2014, in the 600 block of West Eighth Street in Merced, Detective Joe Deliman confirmed in a telephone interview with the Sun-Star.

Deliman said Rojas was identified as a suspect in the case by lead Detective Paul Johnson.

Rojas is the second suspect arrested in the case.

Francisco Arciga, the suspected gunman, was arrested in July and charged with murder. Arciga, 18, has pleaded not guilty, according to court records.

Deliman said police believe Rojas was in the vehicle with Arciga the night of the homicide, but declined to comment on Rojas’ suspected role in the death.

Detectives have not ruled out the possibility of arresting additional suspects, Deliman said.

Arciga is a suspect in multiple shootings in Merced in 2014.

Merced police said Arciga was the driver and a gunman in a drive-by shooting in June 2014. Three people were shot in the 500 block of M Street. All three victims survived their injuries.

Arciga also has been charged with shooting a woman in the leg Oct. 25, 2014, outside a Canal Street bar. Arciga additionally has been charged with shooting at a home on Nov. 11, 2014, in the1600 block of Cypress Way. He has pleaded not guilty in each case, according to court records.

Arciga remains in custody at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility in lieu of more than $4 million bail.

This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 11:25 AM with the headline "Second suspect arrested in 2014 Merced homicide."