watsonville police homicide sunnyhills drive
Watsonville Police comb a parking lot for evidence where 39-year-old Armando Saldana was gunned down during an argument on Jan. 22 at an apartment complex on the 200 block of Sunnyhills Drive. File photo by Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man has been arrested for fatally shooting Armando Saldana on Jan. 22 in an apartment complex on the 200 block of Sunnyhills Drive. 

Felipe Jimenez
Felipe Jimenez

The suspect, 29-year-old Felipe Jimenez, was tracked down by detectives in San Jose and arrested on murder charges Monday night, said Michelle Pulido, spokeswoman for Watsonville Police. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail. 

“For the last two weeks, our detectives have worked tirelessly to bring justice to Armando Saldana’s family,” Pulido said. 

Investigators learned that an argument ended when Jimenez shot Saldana, 39, on Jan. 22 in a parking lot of an apartment complex on the 200 block of Sunnyhills Drive. Saldana’s family rushed him to the hospital where  he died a few hours later, Pulido said.

Multiple search warrants have been served in connection to the case with the help of San Jose Police, Santa Cruz County Auto Theft Reduction Enforcement Team, Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, and WPD’s Special Investigations Unit.

Jimenez made his first court appearance Thursday morning at Santa Cruz Superior Court and is scheduled to return on Feb. 22 for his arraignment. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Juan Castillo at 768.3358 or 889.8414.

Previous articleWatsonville Police seize three guns in five days
Next articlePVUSD Board appoints Scow to fill vacated seat
A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

1 COMMENT

  1. thank you to WPD, the county sheriff and the San Jose PD for removing this person from the general population. he is where he belongs, in the Santa Cruz county jail. yes, we can sleep better knowing he is locked up.

    • Please sign me up for the newsletter - Yes

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here