Ex-Novato Resident Arrested On Suspicion Of Murder: Cops

SAN RAFAEL, CA — A suspect has been arrested in connection with Monday night’s shooting death of a 23-year-old man, San Rafael police said.

The shooting occurred at around 11:50 p.m. on Windward Way according to police.

The suspect has been identified as former Novato resident Jeffrey Osmaldo Aguirre, 19, according to police.

Wilmer Gonzalez Velazquez of San Rafael was identified as the victim, police said.

Officers responded shortly before midnight on Monday to a report that a man who had apparently been shot was laying on the ground and was unresponsive, police said.

Aguirre and Velazquez were in the same vehicle at the time of the shooting with Aguirre sitting directly behind Velazquez according to police.

While the vehicle was in motion, the driver of the vehicle heard a loud bang and immediately pulled to the right curb of Windward Way, police said.

The driver saw that Velasquez had been shot by Aguirre and was asked by Aguirre for assistance, police said.

The driver was threatened when he refused Aguirre's request but was able to get out of the car and run away from the area, police said.

Aguirre fled the scene according to police.

Detectives learned the next day Aguirre had recently returned to Marin County from Conroe, Texas, police said.

Aguirre still has family in the area according to police.

Officers developed information leading them to believe Aguirre may have been at a Richmond residence in the 400 block of Maine Avenue and obtained an arrest warrant/search warrant for the address.

Detectives with assistance from the Marin County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit in Richmond and the San Rafael/Novato Crisis Response Unit (SWAT and Hostage Negotiations) executed the warrant at the Richmond address, where Aguirre was located and peacefully surrendered.

Aguirre was interviewed by detectives in San Rafael and later booked at the Marin County Jail on suspicion of murder, police said.

This is San Rafael’s first reported homicide this year and the third in over nine years according to police.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the San Rafael Police Department at (415) 485-3000.

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