Fugitive murder suspect captured after fleeing to El Salvador

A fugitive accused of the hit-and-run murder of a 16-year-old bicyclist in Los Angeles has been captured nearly two years after fleeing the US. Jonathan Rodriguez, 33, of Los Angeles, was taken into custody at Los Angeles International Airport on August 27, 2026, after authorities tracked him to El Salvador, where he had allegedly been hiding under his dual citizenship, according to KTLA. Rodriguez is accused of killing Jonathan "Junior" Flores during a November 2024 confrontation involving a large group of bicyclists near BMO Stadium. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on November 22, when 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. The exact cause of the confrontation remains unclear. Investigators report that the chaos soon spilled into a parking lot near the stadium, where Flores and other cyclists had ridden through an opening in a fence. A driver in a black Honda allegedly followed Flores into the lot before striking him with the vehicle, resulting in his death as the driver sped away. Investigators identified Rodriguez as the suspected driver just a day later; however, he had fled to Mexico, prompting the issuance of a $2 million arrest warrant. Detectives served a search warrant at 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 later learned that Rodriguez had left Mexico and traveled to El Salvador, where he utilized his dual citizenship. The international manhunt intensified after Rodriguez’s attorney contacted the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to negotiate his surrender. The California Highway Patrol collaborated with the US Marshals Service, which coordinated with Salvadoran authorities and Rodriguez’s attorney to arrange his return. Rodriguez was arrested at LAX without incident and booked into jail. CHP Chief Chris Margaris stated, "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." Flores’ death had a significant impact on his family and friends, who remembered him as a bright and beloved student. His aunt described him as a “smart, loving, quiet, silly boy” in a GoFundMe campaign following his death. Friends noted that Flores was not involved in the initial confrontation and that another cyclist may have struck the BMW’s side mirror before the deadly chase, according to CBS News. CHP Sgt. Dan Kene remarked that the crash was “100% preventable” in the aftermath of the tragedy.