LOS ANGELES, CA – Earlier in January,
46-year-old Herbert Nixon Flores was alleged to have murdered his
ex-girlfriend on January 6th in California, the suspect then
reportedly took his own life on January 9th as police were about to
take him into custody in Texas.�
We offer our deepest
condolences to the family and loved ones of Karen Ruiz, who was
senselessly killed last week near her 3 yo daughter– ERO Los
Angeles acting FOD Andre Quinones. Read more: https://t.co/n0rJIsNtng— ERO Denver (@ERODenver)
January 11, 2021
Additionally, in a recent press release coming from the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, it turns out that
Flores was also an illegal immigrant whose most recent detainer
was ignored by local law enforcement in California.
In the press release dated January 11th, Acting Field Office
Director Andre Quinones of Los Angeles’ Enforcement and Removal
Operations for ICE stated the following:
“We offer our deepest condolences to the family and
loved ones of Karen Ruiz, who was senselessly killed last week near
her 3-year-old daughter.â€
“Like so many other tragedies, this case illustrates
the threat posed by the egregious and often recidivist criminal
offenders our agency identifies, targets, and seeks to apprehend
and remove, and is another example of how California’s
sanctuary policies lead to violence against innocent victims while
protecting illegal aliens who have no authority to be in our
country.â€
Apparently, Flores was a Salvadoran national with a criminal
history dating as far back as 1990 here in the United States. He
was reportedly ordered to be removed and physically deported from
the United States 10 times, as well.
Flores’ criminal history was said to have included carrying a
concealed weapon, trespassing, burglary, disturbing the peace,
possession and transportation of a controlled substance,
impersonation, driving under the influence, driving without a
license, driving with a suspended license, resisting arrest,
vandalism, criminal threats and illegal entry.
“Flores was arrested for a
domestic violence with injury charge by the LAPD. The next day, ICE
lodged an immigration detainer with the LAPD which chose to not
honor the detainer & instead released Flores back into the
community.” https://t.co/X2V5Je9ko4 Heckuva job,
@LAPDHQ!— Mark Krikorian (@MarkSKrikorian)
January 11, 2021
On September 7th of 2020, ICE lodged an immigration detainer
with the LAPD against Flores after he’d been arrested for
domestic violence, which ICE officials say went completely
ignored.
According to Director Quinones, the alleged murder committed by
Flores could’ve been completely avoided had the LAPD honored the
detainer lodged:
“This horrific act of violence that has now claimed
two lives and left a child without her mother might have been
avoided if the suspect had been handed over to our officers months
ago.â€
Later on in the statement released by Director Quinones, he
pointed out that instances like these showcase how imperative it is
that law enforcement on the local level collaborate with federal
officials with respect to immigration detainers:
“Cases like this demonstrate how critical it is for
state and federal law enforcement agencies to work together and
focus all available resources against those who break the
law.â€
“As such, ICE will continue to seek proactive and
effective ways to work with law enforcement partners in our shared
commitment to public safety.â€
We at Law Enforcement Today recently reported on the suicide of
Flores after police attempted to apprehend the suspect.
Here’s that previous report.
_
DALLAS, TX – The man wanted for the
January 6th murder of 35-year-old Karen Ruiz, who police identified
at the time as 46-year-old Herbert Nixon Flores, reportedly
committed suicide on January 9th as police were closing in on
him.
Attached is a media release in
reference to Irving Police Department assisting in the location of
murder suspect Herbert Nixon Flores out of Los Angeles, California.
pic.twitter.com/arbCQPAqk9— Irving Police Dept. (@IrvingPD)
January 9, 2021
On January 6th, the disturbing murder of Ruiz was captured on
surveillance footage while she could be seen trying desperately to
flee from a man police say was Flores.
Footage from the incident showed the suspect firing multiple
shots at the victim after she retreated into a open garage in front
of the driveway she and the suspect pulled into.
At the time of the murder, Ruiz was dropping off the
couple’s 3-year-old daughter at her babysitter’s
home. The child was inside of Ruiz’s vehicle at the time of
the fatal shooting.
After the shooting, the suspect can be seen running back to his
vehicle and fleeing the scene.
Reportedly, Flores and Ruiz were previously involved with each
other in a relationship that investigators say eventually turned
violently abusive – leading to Ruiz ending the relationship
and filing a restraining order against Flores.
1 killed in a shooting near
the 2100 block of W Amherst Ave in Dallas, Texas https://t.co/Qf2fqufo7w— GVAU (@GunVAupdates)
January 9, 2021
In a period of time spanning from the evening of January 8th
into the early morning hours of January 9th, , the FBI’s
Fugitive Task Force had obtained intelligence that the suspect was
located somewhere in Texas.
Reportedly, Irving Police had found that Flores was hiding out
in Arlington and started to track his specific location.
Police had eventually spotted Flores entering a vehicle and
started making his way to Dallas. At this point, Irving Police
gained assistance from both air and ground units from the Dallas
Police Department to assist in tracking the suspect’s
movements.
During the morning of January 9th, Flores had apparently
realized that he was being followed by police and exited his
vehicle and started walking along the area near Amherst Avenue and
Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas.
Herbert Nixon Flores, wanted
for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, was located in Texas by
@IrvingPD
and as officers were attempting to take him into custody, he
committed suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. https://t.co/IHlpdXHamq— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ)
January 9, 2021
At approximately 11:00 a.m., as squad cars were pulling up to
where Flores was walking, he reportedly shot himself, per
a statement released by Irving Police:
“Flores’ movements were tracked until
marked police cars were in the area.â€
“Flores realized that he was being followed,
abandoned his vehicle, and began walking on foot. Once Flores saw
marked police cars pulling up on him, he killed himself with one
self-inflicted gunshot wound from a handgun he had on his
person.â€
While the suspect in the original murder case is deceased,
police officials say the investigation is still ongoing with
respect to both Ruiz’s murder and now Flores reported
suicide.
We at Law Enforcement Today had originally reported about the
fatal shooting of Ruiz while authorities were actively on the hunt
for the suspect.
Here’s our original reporting on the incident that led to
police searching for Flores prior to the suspect’s
death.
_
LOS ANGELES, CA – Police in Los Angeles
are investigating the murder of a 35-year-old woman that occurred
in the Pacoima neighborhood on January 7th.
LAPD officials say that murder, which was caught on camera, was
committed by the
victim’s ex-boyfriend.
Police are seeking a man
considered armed and dangerous after he was caught on video fatally
shooting his former girlfriend outside a Pacoima home, officials
saidhttps://t.co/lKOgcrsxrs— KTLA (@KTLA)
January 8, 2021
The victim was identified as Karen Ruiz, which Los Angeles Fire
Department paramedics that responded to the incident pronounced her
dead at the scene.
When officers initially responded to the home located within the
9000 block of Bartee Avenue at approximately 9:35 a.m. on January
7th, they found that Ruiz had suffered several gunshot wounds.
According to investigators, Ruiz was in the process of dropping
off her 3-year-old daughter at the babysitter’s home when
the fatal shooting took place.
Herbert Nixon Flores, the father of the child and ex-boyfriend
of the victim, was said to be the shooter.
In a disturbing video released by the LAPD, Ruiz can be seen
running out of her vehicle parked in a driveway where the man,
identified by police as Flores, had pulled up behind her
vehicle.
Ruiz is seen running into an open garage, screaming for help.
The suspect follows behind her, producing a weapon, and shoots what
appears to be seven shots.
The first shots fired were aiming higher and then progressed
downward, suggesting that the final shots were unloaded as the
victim was already on the ground.
Reportedly, the young daughter was inside of the vehicle when
her mother was killed.
Detective Sharon Kim stated that Ruiz and Flores had recently
separated, and that Ruiz had taken a restraining order out on
Flores as well. Now, the family of the deceased is also concerned
that Flores may pose a danger to them as well.
Police described Flores as being approximately six-foot-one,
weighing roughly 220 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes, and
is considered to be armed and dangerous.
Anyone who comes into contact with Flores is urged to call
police immediately. Furthermore, anyone with information on the
case or suspect is asked to call Detective Kim at 818-374-9550.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call 800-222-8477.
This is a developing investigation.
Please follow Law Enforcement Today as we gather further updates
on the status of this case.
_
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Officials: Sanctuary-state California ignored immigration detainer
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