San Diego, California – An inmate who escaped from custody in Central California last year is now a fugitive wanted for the murder of a Mexican police commander during a shootout in Tijuana, authorities confirmed.
Cesar Hernandez, who had been serving a sentence for first-degree murder, killed Abigail Esparza Reyes, a member of a specialized Mexican police unit responsible for tracking foreign fugitives. Reyes was part of a team dedicated to locating individuals who flee across the U.S.-Mexico border to evade law enforcement, often referred to as “gringo hunters.”
The incident occurred on Wednesday when Reyes attempted to arrest Hernandez, who had been on the run since escaping custody in December 2024. Hernandez, 35, fled after a court appearance in Delano, California. Authorities said he evaded custody, jumping out of a transport van before disappearing. Hernandez had been serving a sentence for multiple crimes, including a 25-year sentence for first-degree murder, which was extended due to prior offenses. Before his escape, he had been incarcerated at the Kern Valley State Prison in Delano…