After 16 years, a call out of the blue leads to the LAPD capturing a ‘most wanted’ murder suspect
The tip came in the form of a voice message.
The woman on the line said she had been browsing the “most wanted” section of the Los Angeles Police Department’s website and saw a photo of a man she recognized.
The man, Samuel Calvario, was a suspect in a 16-year-old homicide. The website warned that he was considered “armed and dangerous” and urged members of the public not to try to apprehend him themselves.
The tipster told police where he was and wished them luck.
On Wednesday, police announced that they had taken Calvario, 45, into custody at his place of work last week.
Calvario had been able to evade authorities for so long by assuming a new identity, said LAPD Officer Deen Alcaraz. The detective did not give details on where Calvario was living, other than to say he was in Los Angeles County.
The crime took place on Nov. 9, 2000, at about 9 p.m., when 31-year-old Daniel Felix saw Calvario and his girlfriend arguing inside a white truck, police said. Felix intervened in the dispute and Calvario became angry, pulled out a gun and shot him, Alcaraz said. After the shooting, police had found marijuana in the white truck, which had been abandoned by Calvario.
In addition to one count of murder, Calvario faces charges of assault with a firearm, kidnapping and transportation of marijuana, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. Calvario is due in court Aug. 10.
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Not much is known about the victim, who lived in the area at the time of the killing. Police are still trying to get into touch with his family.
Alcaraz said he’s never had a suspect identified by someone who was browsing the department’s website, but he said the case underscores the role the public can play in solving crimes.
“This caller did a great justice,” he said. “Ultimately, the community is the one who provided the information that led to the arrest.”
Police urged anyone with additional information about the case to call Newton Division detectives at (323) 846-6556.
To read more about homicides in Los Angeles County, follow the Times’ Homicide Report on Twitter: @latimeshomicide
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