Full Notification

Case #2018R13550
On Thursday, July 13, 2023, at about 2:30 PM, Santa Maria Police Department detectives conducted an arrest warrant operation in the city stemming from a 2018 murder investigation. As a result, 21-year-old Guadalupe resident Israel De La Cruz Hernandez was arrested on a warrant without incident.

On December 8, 2018, Adrian Zamora Alvarez (18 years old at the time) was shot and killed near the intersection of Enos and Thornburg. SMPD officers, detectives and crime lab personnel responded and investigated this incident.  

This case has remained open and active since 2018. SMPD detectives continued to investigate this case and deemed it to be gang related. In early 2023, SMPD detectives gathered further information and evidence that supported an arrest warrant being sought for Hernandez. SMPD detectives obtained an arrest warrant earlier this month that was subsequently served today, July 13, 2023.

Hernandez was booked on his warrant for the charges of 187 PC – Murder and 186.22 – Gang Enhancement. He is being held on two million dollars bail.

Anyone with information related to this investigation should contact Detective Cazares at (805) 928 -3781 ext. 1319 or the Communications Center at (805) 928 3781 ext. 2277.


Prepared by:

Daniel Rios, Lieutenant
Detective Bureau Supervisor