August 27, 2024 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Police Department officials report that an arrest was made in a recent homicide when ALPR technology helped quickly locate the suspect in Dana Point driving the victim’s stolen car.
On August 24, 2024, at approximately 1:53 p.m., the San Diego Police Communications Center received a report of a male found deceased in the 6400 block of Madrone Avenue.
When Southeastern Division officers and paramedics arrived, they located a deceased male inside of his residence with visible trauma to his body. The San Diego County Medical Examiner determined the injuries were stab wounds. The victim is now identified as Francisco Cruz. He is described as a 55-year-old Hispanic male.
San Diego Homicide Detectives were called to the scene. Detectives are still working to determine how the suspect and victim know each other. At some point, the suspect stabbed the victim to death and then stole the victim’s car and fled. The victim’s car was quickly placed on the “hotlist” in the Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system.
Detectives learned that the ALPR system alerted them that the vehicle had been flagged around Dana Point. They began coordinating with Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies to check the area.
On August 25, 2024 (the next day), at approximately 3:25 a.m., an Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy was checking the area of the ALPR hits. He spotted the vehicle in the 34000 block of Doheny Park Road, Capistrano Beach, and initiated a traffic stop. The driver (and sole occupant) was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit.
The driver was identified as David Nava. He is described as a 22-year-old Hispanic male and a resident of San Diego.
Orange County Sheriffs transferred Nava to the custody of the San Diego Police Department. He was booked into San Diego County Jail for murder and vehicle theft. He is scheduled to be arraigned on August 28, 2024, at 1:30 p.m.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is thanked for their assistance in taking this suspect into custody so quickly.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
Source: San Diego Police Department
