Fugitive With Ties To Mexican Cartel Wanted For Long Beach Cold Case

LONG BEACH, CA — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that could lead to the arrest of a fugitive charged with murder in Long Beach.

Jose Manuel Flores, Jr, 47, is wanted for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of a victim inside the Brite Spot Restaurant in Long Beach on Oct. 18, 2008. Following an investigation conducted by the Long Beach Police Department, Flores was charged with murder and felon in possession of a firearm in 2010.

Long Beach investigators determined that Flores fled the state of California and believed he fled south of the U.S. border. The FBI assisted authorities in Long Beach and issued a federal arrest warrant for Flores after he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

According to the FBI, Flores has ties to or may visit Southern California and Mexico, and he previously lived in Long Beach. Investigators said Flores is known to have ties with the Los Zetas cartel in Mexico and is believed to be currently living in Mexico.

"Flores should be considered armed and dangerous with violent tendencies," the FBI said in a statement.

Flores has used aliases including "Willie" and "Malo," according to investigators, and he has also added the suffix Jr. at the end of his formal name. He is described as having brown eyes and brown hair, with a height of 5 feet 7 inches. He also has tattoos on his right arm, back, chest, head and neck.

Anyone who may have information concerning this case or Flores' whereabouts was urged to contact the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565 or LBPD's Homicide Detail at 562-570-7244.