Brawley shooting suspect captured
EL CENTRO — The suspect in Wednesday’s fatal shooting in Brawley has been captured. Eduardo Tolentino, 27, was taken into custody at about 2 p.m. Friday in the area of Fourth and Main streets by El Centro police officers, the City of Brawley announced. Tolentino was taken into custody Tolentino without incident and later turned over to the Brawley Police Department for the pending murder investigation. It was reported that Tolentino was armed with a gun at the time of arrest.
Tolentino was the prime suspect in a shooting incident that occurred Wednesday evening at Fillco Gas Station, 667 Main St., in Brawley, which left one dead and one hospitalized.
The victim killed in the shooting was identified as 24-year-old Brawley resident Daniel Hernandez Jr., county Sheriff’s Office coroner’s office confirmed.
Hernandez was the victim of a multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased on scene. The second gunshot victim, who remains unidentified, was reported to be conscious and alert and was transported for treatment to Pioneers Memorial Hospital.
No update had been available regarding the second victim’s condition as of press time Friday.
While the type of firearm used has not been officially confirmed, El Centro Police Department call logs mention the weapon used in the shooting was a handgun.
At about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Brawley police officers responded to Fillco and discovered the deceased victim at the scene.
The second victim had fled the area although was located a short distance from the scene.
Tolentino was believed to have fled the scene after the shooting in a Jeep Cherokee. He remained at large until Friday.
“The Brawley Police Department appreciates all mutual aid law enforcement, fire and emergency medical personnel that responded and assisted with the ongoing murder investigation,” a city of Brawley news release stated. “The Brawley Police Department would like to give a special thank you to El Centro Police Department for their diligence and assistance in the apprehension of this community threat.”
The murder investigation continues, the city of Brawley stated. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Det. Sgt. Rotner at (760) 3517777.