Jonathan Rodriguez, 33, a fugitive accused of the hit-and-run killing of a 16-year-old bicyclist in Los Angeles, was apprehended at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday, nearly two years after he fled the United States. Authorities tracked Rodriguez to El Salvador, where he had allegedly been hiding using his dual citizenship, according to KTLA.
Rodriguez is accused of killing Jonathan “Junior” Flores in November 2024 following a confrontation involving a large group of bicyclists near BMO Stadium. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 22, when a group of approximately 40 cyclists became involved in an altercation with the driver of a blue BMW on Figueroa Street, near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Exactly what precipitated the confrontation remains unclear. Investigators stated that the conflict escalated and spilled into a parking lot near the stadium, where Flores and other cyclists had entered through a fence opening. A driver in a black Honda allegedly followed Flores into the lot before striking him with the vehicle, killing the teenager, and then speeding away. Investigators identified Rodriguez as the suspect the following day. Authorities later determined Rodriguez had fled to Mexico, leading to the issuance of a $2 million arrest warrant.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for a Los Angeles residence linked to Rodriguez and seized two vehicles allegedly connected to the incident: a blue 2021 BMW sedan and a black 2018 Honda Accord. Investigators eventually learned that Rodriguez had traveled from Mexico to El Salvador, where he was able to utilize his dual citizenship. The international manhunt concluded when Rodriguez's attorney contacted the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to negotiate his surrender.
The California Highway Patrol collaborated with the U.S. Marshals Service, which coordinated with Salvadoran authorities and Rodriguez's attorney to arrange his return. On Aug. 27, Rodriguez boarded a flight from El Salvador to Los Angeles. He was arrested at LAX without incident and booked into jail.
"This murder suspect was taken into custody thanks to the unrelenting commitment of our detectives and the cooperation of the United States Marshals Service and the El Salvadorian government," CHP Chief Chris Margaris told KTLA. "For the past two years, our detectives refused to give up their pursuit of justice to apprehend the person responsible for this senseless act of violence."
Friends of Flores described the teenager as a bright and beloved student. His aunt stated in a GoFundMe campaign that he was a "smart, loving, quiet, silly boy" who left a positive impact on many and did not deserve his fate. Some friends also indicated that Flores was not involved in the initial confrontation and suggested that another cyclist may have struck the BMW’s side mirror before the fatal encounter, according to CBS News. CHP Sgt. Dan Kene called the crash "100% preventable" in the aftermath of the tragedy.