Third suspect arrested in Santa Cruz’s second homicide of year

UPDATE 9/20/16 4:54 PM: A third suspect has been arrested in connection to a man killed along the San Lorenzo River Levee August 23.

The Santa Cruz Police Department said Cristobal Natividad, 41, from Santa Cruz, was arrested as an accessory to the homicide.

Investigators said Natividad was in close contact with Nino Ruiz and Jenessa Kic after the victim was killed.

They said evidence shows the handgun used in the deadly shooting is registered to a relative of Natividad’s and Ruiz is accused of using the gun to shoot the victim.

PREVIOUS STORY: Officers have arrested a transient from Santa Cruz County and his girlfriend in Tuesday’s fatal shooting in Santa Cruz, according to police.

An unidentified man was found shot on a levee pathway near the 400 block of Front Street on Tuesday morning. The victim died at the scene.

Santa Cruz Police have identified the suspect shooter as Nino Ruiz, 27. Officers also arrested Jenessa Kic, 31, from Santa Cruz, on murder and conspiracy to commit a murder.

Detectives interviewed witnesses. Their investigation led them to the two suspects, according to police. They were detained just after noon on Tuesday coming out of residence on Liebrant Avenue, according to police.

The motive for the murder is not yet known and the gun used has not yet been recovered, according to the SCPD press release.

Police are waiting to release the name of the victim until family members can be notified.