JOINT INVESTIGATION RESULTS IN MURDER ARREST
Originally published as a Butte County press release –
“Oroville, CA – On December 25, 2017, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies and detectives responded to a shooting in the 2900 block of Clark Road, Oroville. Upon arrival, deputies located a deceased male who was identified as Salvador Fuentes, age 27, of Oroville.
During the subsequent investigation, it was determined Fuentes died as a result of a gunshot wound. Detectives located evidence that gave them cause to believe Fuentes was murdered.
During the investigation, detectives identified Johnny Cabrera, age 34, of Chico as a suspect. Detectives located evidence that gave them cause to believe Cabrera was associated with a local criminal street gang and the murder was gang-related.
In 2018, the Chico Police Department (CPD) Violence Suppression Unit and the FBI Chico Office began assisting BCSO detectives with the murder investigation. BCSO and CPD detectives spent the past three years investigating the murder. In April of 2021, Butte County District Attorney’s Office Investigators began assisting with the investigation.
Over the past four months, detectives conducted additional interviews and served search warrants at two locations in Chico. Detectives located additional evidence that gave them cause to believe that Cabrera murdered Fuentes.
In May of 2021, detectives worked with the Butte County District Attorney’s Office and obtained an arrest warrant for Cabrera for an open count of murder. Cabrera is currently incarcerated at the California Department of Corrections Corcoran State Prison for an unrelated criminal conviction.
On July 16, 2021, detectives interviewed Cabrera at Corcoran State Prison. Detectives and the Butte County District Attorney’s Office are working on having Cabrera transported to the Butte County Jail. If anyone has information about this case, they are encouraged to call Detective Vaj Thao at 530-538-7671.”
