Murder Cased Closed as Injured Suspect Dies

Police said Monday that a 4-year-old murder case was closed after the suspect turned up at a San Diego hospital last week with major injuries suffered in a Tijuana horse accident.

UC San Diego Medical Center officials called Santa Ana police Friday seeking help locating the family of Juan Torres Navidad, Sgt. Bob Clark said.

A little extra work by a police clerk yielded an unexpected surprise. “One of the records people ran his name and it came up with a murder warrant,” Clark said.

Navidad, who died of his injuries, was wanted in the shooting of 36-year-old Luis Lopez on Dec. 23, 1992, in an alley behind the 1600 block of South Cedar Street, Clark said.

Investigators drove to San Diego and identified Navidad as the suspect before he died.