Suspect In 1980 Calif. Cold Case Arrested In Shaler Township
SHALER TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- Investigators say the suspect in a deadly home invasion-robbery cold case from 1980 near Los Angeles, Calif., has been taken into custody in the Pittsburgh area.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, 53-year-old Patrick Salmon was arrested on May 17 at his home in Shaler Township.
Investigators from California say Salmon was wanted in connection with the May 1980 shooting death of 16-year-old Joaquin Mansion during a home invasion and robbery.
Authorities with the Santa Monica police say they were able to track Salmon down through "electronic law enforcement and open source databases." The information took investigators to Illinois and South Dakota before ending up here in Pennsylvania.
Police report that two juveniles were arrested and convicted in connection with the case in the months following the crime.
But the investigation was suspended for nearly three decades because police say the adult accused of being the gunman was never identified and "known only to acquaintances by a nickname."
The Santa Monica Cold Case Unit later reopened the case.
Shaler Township Police, Allegheny County Police and the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office helped Santa Monica detectives and the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office in the investigation.
Anyone with additional information on Patrick Salmon is being asked to contact Santa Monica Police at 310-458-8451.
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Santa Monica Police Department
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