2017 Northridge Homicide Suspect Found In Mexico, Brought To LA

NORTHRIDGE, CA — A man wanted in connection with a deadly Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Northridge on New Year’s Eve 2017 was found hiding in Mexico and brought back to the United States this week, according to the FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Derek Bryan Dominguez, 31, was eventually taken into custody after fighting with American and Mexican law enforcement agents, who raided a residence where he was staying in Rosarito, Mexico, just south of Tijuana, FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller told the Los Angeles Daily News.

Dominguez is accused of fatally shooting Jorge Reyes Jr., 23, in the parking lot of a KFC in the 8600 block of Balboa Avenue on Dec. 31, 2017. According to the FBI, Dominguez was inside the restaurant with his girlfriend and two sons when he made eye contact with a man outside standing next to Reyes. Dominguez went outside and got in a shouting and punching match with Reyes, then pulled out a gun and shot him multiple times.

Dominguez fled after the killing, and a state search warrant was issued in January 2018. A federal warrant was issued a few weeks later. His girlfriend, 28-year-old Mallely Espinoza, was arrested about a month after the shooting. LAPD detectives accused her of being an accessory to Reyes’ killing.

Domingue is booked at a jail in Van Nuys, and is currently being held on more than $3 million bail. He is scheduled to appear in court in June.

— Patch staffer Michael Wittner and City News Service contributed to this report.