SANTA CRUZ (KRON) — “Mr. Ramirez Tapia is back here in Santa Cruz to face what he did back in 2009,” Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell said today.

Rosell on Thursday announced the arrest of 32-year-old Ivan Ramirez Tapia in Mexico in connection with the October 2009 murder of 16 year-old Tyler Tenorio, of Santa Cruz.

“Mr. Tapia thought that by fleeing to Mexico he could escape the consequences for his actions, but nothing could be further from the truth,” Rosell said.

On October 16, 2009, Tenorio, a junior at Santa Cruz High School, was fatally stabbed during an altercation with several gang members near the 7-Eleven at the corner of Laurel and Chestnut Streets.

An American citizen, Tapia fled to Durango, Mexico, where he was tracked down with the help of the FBI.

“Tapia assaulted one of the federal officers and said he thought he was being kidnapped by the cartel,” said Bertram Farries with the FBI.

Besides Tapia, three other suspected gang members have been implicated in the case and a fourth suspect is also thought have fled to Mexico.

The District Attorney says law enforcement won’t rest until all of those involved in the killing have been brought to justice.

“If you think that international borders can prevent you from being caught you are wrong, you will be brought to justice and that is what just happened to Mr. Tapia.”

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