DNA leads to suspect’s arrest in 1996 Rancho Cucamonga murder
DNA evidence helped authorities nab a suspect in a Rancho Cucamonga murder nearly 17 years after the killing, authorities said Friday.
Gabriel Bencomo was arrested Thursday in the Aug. 4, 1996, shooting death of Joseph Anguiano. Bencomo allegedly targeted Anguiano in front of Anguiano’s home in the 8800 block of Hermosa Avenue.
Anguiano later died at Loma Linda University Medical Center. The case remained unsolved until this week’s development.
The sheriff’s cold case team reopened the investigation in 2010, combing through more evidence, according to officials.
Using DNA data, they identified Bencomo, arresting him Thursday in Riverside about 3:15 p.m. He was booked into the West Valley Detention Center with bail set at $1 million.
Anyone with more information is asked to contact Det. Jerry Davenport or Det. Ryan Ford at (909) 387-3589.
The cold case team is comprised of two detectives, a deputy district attorney and a criminalist. Part of its funding comes from a $500,000 “Solving Cold Cases with DNA” grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.
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anh.do@latimes.com
Twitter: @newsterrier
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