Suspect Arrested in North Hollywood Murder

Los Angeles: A suspect in the shooting death of a North Hollywood resident early Saturday morning has been arrested.

On September 10, 2011, just before 1 a.m., Foothill Patrol Officers were called to an apartment in the 7600 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard to investigate a report of an Assault with a Deadly Weapon.  When the officers arrived, they found 43-year-old Rafael Flores Vaca suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Los Angeles City Fire Department personnel transported Vaca to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

A perimeter was quickly established to try and find the suspect.  One suspect, 25-year-old Caitan Arrequin was initially detained attempting to escape from the perimeter.  Detectives gathered additional information that led to a search warrant being served at Arrequin’s residence. Information and evidence recovered during the investigation pointed to Arrequin as the suspect who committed the crime.  He was arrested at about 5 p.m. later that day for Vaca’s murder.  He is being held on $1,000,000 bail.

The motive may stem from a neighbor or gang dispute.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Foothill Homicide Detectives, Detectives Mario Santana or Adrienne Hamilton at 818-834-3115.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 213-978-6500 or 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Comments

[Tam Vo]

Rafael Vaca is my uncle through marriage, he had just finished wining back custody of two of his three children this year. They were not his biological children but he had raised them their whole life. That was the only credibility that won him back the kids. He was very devoted to his children and worked hard to raise them their whole lives, with no help of their mother or any other guardian. He was very devoted to them, even though he liked to drink a lot he was always able to carry and fulfill his responsibilities as a family man. He often came over on weekends to have barbecues and get together. He was always in high hopes and full of energy, and he ALWAYS attended church. He did not deserve what had happened to him, he was not even the target of this incident; he just happened to be hanging around the wrong crowd. It is horrible that this happened to him, the people who really did know him and everything he stood for are in deep grief. This man deserves more credit that people are led on to believe about him.

[elizabeth ramirez]

We will miss you Compadre. We Love you!!!

[Hollywood murders]

you have the wrong guy.