TIJUANA, Mexico — A high-stakes manhunt for a fugitive U.S. convict ended in tragedy on April 9, when a shootout in Tijuana claimed the life of a Mexican police officer. The suspect, 32-year-old César Moisés Hernández, had been on the run since escaping from U.S. custody in December 2024.
Hernández, who was serving an 80-year sentence for first-degree murder in California, had been a high-priority target for authorities in both the U.S. and Mexico. He was captured Thursday during a coordinated operation dubbed “Gracela,” led by Mexico’s State Investigation Agency in collaboration with national defense forces.
During the operation to capture him, Hernández fatally shot Commander Abigail Esparza Reyes, a member of a special fugitive-tracking task force. Reyes was one of over 50 officers involved in the raid, which took place in the Lomas de Matamoros neighborhood of Tijuana.
Authorities say Hernández barricaded himself inside a house for hours, firing at officers before ultimately being apprehended. Intelligence and surveillance technology played a key role in locating him.
The fugitive had fled from the Kern County Superior Courthouse in Delano, California, on December 2, 2024, escaping in a pickup truck. In addition to his murder conviction, he also faces charges related to weapons and contraband inside prison.
Hernández is now facing additional charges in Mexico, including the murder of Commander Reyes, and remains in custody in Tijuana as criminal proceedings begin.
