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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police have arrested one man and are seeking his brother in connection to a June 17 drive-by shooting that killed a Clearlake man.
On Thursday evening, officers arrested 37-year-old Miguel Becerra, who has ties to both Clearlake and Southern California, for the shooting of Steven Stone, according to Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White.
White said they’re still seeking Becerra’s younger brother, Christian Becerra, 26, who also has ties to Clearlake and the Indio area.
On Thursday night, White said the case was continuing to develop, as detectives served a search warrant at the scene of Becerra’s arrest on Sonoma Way.
Police say the men were responsible for the fatal shooting of Stone, 40, early on the morning of June 17 at Trombetta’s Resort, located at 5865 Old Highway 53.
Officers who arrived at the scene shortly after 12:30 a.m. that day found Stone on the ground with a gunshot wound.
Despite efforts to resuscitate him at the scene and the hospital, Stone was declared dead.
During the subsequent investigation, detectives determined that shots were fired at Stone from a vehicle that drove on the main driveway of the resort. The vehicle then fled in an unknown direction on Old Highway 53.
Since the murder, the Clearlake Police Department Investigations Bureau has been conducting extensive followup investigation, in the course of which they obtained information identifying Miguel and Christian Becerra as the suspects, White said.
Police said Christian Becerra was involved in an altercation on Jones Avenue hours before the homicide. When Stone was shot, he was accompanied by another person who had been present at the earlier altercation.
On Thursday, Clearlake Police, Code Enforcement, Animal Control and Lake County Probation conducted a citywide sweep, making arrests for drugs, weapons and people living in red-tagged homes, White said.
It was during that sweep – at about 4:40 p.m. – that White said police received information that Miguel Becerra was at a residence located in the 3500 block of Sonoma Way.
Clearlake Police and Lake County Probation personnel responded to the residence, where they located Miguel Becerra, who fought with officers as they tried to take him into custody, White said.
As officers were arresting Miguel Becerra, 37-year-old Amber Williams of Clearlake, who originally answered the door at the residence, charged towards officers and then resisted their efforts to control her, White said.
White said Miguel Becerra was arrested on probable cause for the murder of Steven Stone while Williams was arrested on probable cause for obstruction and battery on a peace officer.
In April, Clearlake Police Officer Mauricio Barreto had arrested Miguel Becerra and Williams following a traffic stop, after finding Williams – a convicted felon – in possession of a stolen handgun. At the time, Miguel Becerra gave Barreto a false name as he had a warrant for his arrest and a suspended driver’s license.
On Thursday, detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence where Miguel Becerra was located and completed executing that warrant late Thursday night, White said.
A firearm – a rifle – was located at the residence but it is not believed to be the murder weapon. White said they believe a handgun was used to kill Stone.
White said detectives are seeking to locate Christian Becerra, who is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall, 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Christian Becerra may be driving a 2005 Legend Lime Ford Mustang, California License No. 8KCS533, police said.
White said the vehicle hasn’t been seen in Clearlake since the shooting, and detectives have been reaching out to law enforcement agencies throughout the state to see if any of them have run the vehicle.
He said they’re also in contact with the Federal Bureau of Investigation as they attempt to locate Christian Becerra and the car.
Christian Becerra is considered armed and dangerous and police said neither he nor the vehicle should be approached. Rather, if he is seen, contact the nearest law enforcement agency immediately.
“The information presented as it is known to us today, but there is extensive additional investigation to be done and the information may change as new information is learned and additional evidence is gathered,” according to the statement released by the Clearlake Police Department on Thursday night.
Anyone with information is asked to call Clearlake Police Det. Leo Flores at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
