(June 27, 2002) -- As a result of what LBPD called a continuous extensive investigation by its homicide detectives, and coordination with U.S. Customs and San Diego PD, two suspects in the June 25 NLB murder and robbery of armored car guard Victor Hurtado are now in custody, after LBPD alerted U.S. Customs to watch for the suspect and a vehicle possibly believed returning to the U.S. from Mexico.

In a release issued late Wednesday (June 26), LBPD said its detectives, aided by San Diego PD's Robbery task force, worked "non-stop into investigative leads...Detectives gathered information on a possible suspect that was provided to both San Diego and U.S. Customs...[A] U.S. Customs agent recognized the possible suspect as well as the vehicle and he was detained. Also detained was an additional suspect who was a passenger in the same vehicle."

Customs agents detained the suspects until LBPD detectives arrived...and both suspects were arrested and taken back to LB where they are being held without bail.

LBPD says that after the arrests, three search warrants were served in LB, South Gate and Compton and a quantity of U.S. currency, believed to be part of the loss from the robbery, was recovered. Police say they also recovered additional evidence, details of which were not disclosed, that they say "directly links these suspects to the crime."

Police identified the suspects as 20 year old Jose Silva of Long Beach, and 22 year old Daniel Nieves of Los Angeles.

LBPD explicitly thanked the San Diego Police Department's Robbery Task force and U.S. Customs for what it called invaluable assistance in the investigation.

The brutality and brazen nature of the crime shocked and stunned many LB residents. Shortly after 11:00 a.m. on June 25, 33 year old Victor Hurtado of Paramount, an armored car guard, was shot in the head while making a cash pickup at a NLB business at 2350 E. 68th St.

A few minutes later, police found an apparent getaway vehicle torched near 71st and Lime.