HOUSTON – A man who fled to Mexico after police say he shot and killed another man in 2004 was extradited back to Harris County Friday where he will stand trial for his role in the shooting, according to the Houston Police Department.
Antonio Balencia Davalos, 53, has been charged with murder for the shooting death of Santiago Gonzalez, 31.
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Details of cold case
On Aug. 19, 2004, officers responding to reports of a shooting around 11:20 p.m. at an apartment complex, located in the 6300 block of Windswept Lane.
According to witnesses, police said Gonzalez was standing at the top of a stairwell near his apartment at a complex, speaking with a relative. It was learned that the suspect drove into the apartment complex, parked near the stairwell and walked to the base of the stairs. At some point, Gonzalez and the suspect got into an argument. The suspect then allegedly pulled a pistol from his waistband and fired several shots at Gonzalez.
Police said Gonzalez was struck multiple times and died at the scene. At that time, witnesses identified the suspect as Davalos.
HPD homicide detectives filed a warrant for Davalos’ arrest, but later learned he had fled to Mexico. In January 2015, HPD homicide detective obtained information on Davalos’ whereabouts, but efforts to extradite him back to Harris County were unsuccessful, according to HPD.
In September 2020, HPD Cold Case Unit, the Harris County District Attorney’s Fugitive Apprehension Section and the United States Marshals Service initiated new efforts to extradite Davalos back to Harris County. Davalos was extradited back to Harris County July 22 to stand trial for his involvement in Gonzalez’s murder.