Watsonville Resident Arrested in Connection With Fatal Larkin Valley Road Shooting
WATSONVILLE, CA — A 42-year-old man has been taken into custody in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred over the weekend near Watsonville, according to local authorities.
Deputies arrested Alvaro Melendrez of Watsonville on October 5, 2026, at approximately 11:30 p.m. The arrest stems from an investigation into the death of 39-year-old Christopher Fagon.
The incident began on October 3, 2026, at approximately 6:59 p.m., when law enforcement officers responded to reports regarding an unresponsive male along Larkin Valley Road near Windsong Way in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. First responders located Fagon at the scene and confirmed he was deceased. Officials later determined that the cause of death was a gunshot wound.
Investigators stated that Melendrez and Fagon were acquainted prior to the incident. Detectives are maintaining an active inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the event, though officials noted there is no current indication of an ongoing threat to the public.
The Sheriff’s Office acknowledged support from the Watsonville Police Department, Santa Cruz Police Department, California Highway Patrol Santa Cruz, the District Attorney’s Office, and its own Forensics Division during the investigation.
