A man wanted in connection with the shooting of a woman at the Carson River on June 12 was captured Wednesday evening in Washington state after a migrant worker there made an anonymous tip to Secret Witness, officials said.
Miguel Barajas-Zarate, 31, was arrested in his brother's SUV as it left a cherry orchard outside Wenatchee, Wash., said Carson City Sheriff's Capt. Ken Sandage.
On June 12, Barajas-Zarate allegedly shot Ashley Fortune, 21, in the stomach and then beat her with a rock in retaliation for an alleged theft. He left her for dead, according to investigators. She was found alive two hours later by a passerby.
Sandage said the woman initially lied about her identity because of a warrant she had, but revealed her real name the following day when confronted by investigators.
Sandage said Carson City investigators have been in Washington since late last week after receiving tips that Barajas-Zarate may be with family there.
During the course of the Washington investigation immigration officers discovered that Barajas-Zarate's brother Jose had been deported once before and was back in the country. He was arrested.
After Carson City detectives told migrant workers in an orchard near Wenatchee of a reward for Barajas-Zarate's arrest, a tip came in to Secret Witness that revealed the suspect was in the orchard, said Sandage.
Sandage said when police saw a vehicle belonging to another of Barajas-Zarate's brothers leaving the orchard, members of the Wenatchee Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement stopped the vehicle.
He said Barajas-Zarate was arrested without incident on a Carson City warrant for attempted murder.
Immigration and customs officials placed a no-bail hold on Barajas-Zarate, believed to be in the country illegally.
Sandage said a governor's warrant will be requested for Barajas-Zarate's return to Nevada.