Santa Rosa police seek man accused of decapitating elderly female relative and taking her head with him.
Luis Gustavo Aroyo-Lopez’s prior mugshots were released by the Santa Rosa Police Department.
Santa Rosa Police Press Release Re: Wanted Murder Suspect Luis Gustavo Aroyo-Lopez
WANTED: Assistance Needed in Locating a Homicide Suspect
En español abajo
On Thursday, November 2, 2023, at approximately 3:40 pm, Santa Rosa Police officers responded to the 2500-block of Pomo Trail, Santa Rosa, regarding a possible homicide. When officers arrived on scene, they located a deceased female inside of the residence. The adult female victim had been decapitated. The victim’s head was not located at the residence.
Detectives from SRPD Violent Crimes Investigations team assumed the investigation and began interviewing anyone who potentially had information about the incident. The initial investigation revealed Luis Gustavo Aroyo-Lopez, a 24-year-old resident of Santa Rosa and relative of the victim, killed the victim before leaving the scene. It is believed Aroyo-Lopez took the victim’s head with him when he left the residence and he may still be in possession of it.
Aroyo-Lopez is described as a Hispanic adult male, approximately 5-foot 6-inches tall, weighing approximately 150-pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a long-sleeve black hooded sweatshirt or jacket, black pants, and white shoes. Aroyo-Lopez has a large tattoo of “420” and a marijuana leaf on the left side of his head. Aroyo-Lopez is believed to have left the residence walking south on Iroquois Street.
It is unknown currently where Aroyo-Lopez intends on going or what his current means of travel are. He has additional relatives in the San Joaquin Valley area, but it is unknown if that is his destination.
Aroyo-Lopez was recently released from state prison and placed on Postrelease Community Supervision (PRCS). He had been incarcerated for assault with a deadly weapon and weapons possession charges, unrelated to the victim in this incident. Aroyo-Lopez is currently wanted by detectives and there is an active homicide warrant for his arrest. If you see Aroyo-Lopez, please call 911. Aroyo-Lopez should be considered armed and dangerous, so please do not contact him.
SRPD detectives are continuing to investigate this homicide and would like to speak with anyone who has information potentially related to this incident. Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact the SRPD VCI team at 707-543-3590 or through our online Tip Line: www.srcity.org/CrimeTips. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered by the Sonoma County Alliance Community Engagement and Safety Rewards Fund. The reward is for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved in this stabbing.
When Aroyo-Lopez is in custody, more information related to the circumstances of the homicide may be released.
Santa Rosa Police Department case number 23-13955.
Media contact:
Sgt. Patricia Seffens
Public Information Officer
707-543-3634
[email protected]
En español
SE BUSCA: Se necesita asistencia para localizar a un sospechoso de homicidio
El jueves 2 de noviembre de 2023, aproximadamente a las 3:40 p.m., agentes de la policĂa de Santa Rosa acudieron a la cuadra 2500 de Pomo Trail, Santa Rosa, con respecto a un posible homicidio. Cuando los agentes llegaron al lugar, localizaron a una mujer fallecida dentro de la residencia. La vĂctima adulta habĂa sido decapitada. La cabeza de la vĂctima no fue localizada en la residencia.
Los detectives del equipo de Investigaciones de CrĂmenes Violentos del SRPD asumieron la investigaciĂłn y comenzaron a entrevistar a cualquiera que potencialmente tuviera informaciĂłn sobre el incidente. La investigaciĂłn inicial revelĂł que Luis Gustavo Aroyo LĂłpez, de 24 años, residente de Santa Rosa y familiar de la vĂctima, matĂł a la vĂctima antes de abandonar el lugar. Se cree que Aroyo-LĂłpez se llevĂł la cabeza de la vĂctima cuando saliĂł de la residencia y es posible que todavĂa estĂ© en posesiĂłn de ella.
Aroyo-López es descrito como un hombre adulto hispano, que mide aproximadamente 5 pies y 6 pulgadas de alto, pesa aproximadamente 150 libras, tiene cabello negro y ojos marrones. Fue visto por última vez vistiendo una sudadera o chaqueta negra con capucha de manga larga, pantalones negros y zapatos blancos. Aroyo-Lopez tiene un gran tatuaje de “420” y una hoja de marihuana en el lado izquierdo de la cabeza. Se cree que Aroyo-López salió de la residencia caminando hacia el sur por Iroquois Street.
Actualmente se desconoce dĂłnde pretende ir Aroyo-LĂłpez o cuáles son sus medios de viaje actuales. Tiene familiares adicionales en el área del Valle de San JoaquĂn, pero se desconoce si ese es su destino.
Aroyo-LĂłpez fue liberado recientemente de la prisiĂłn estatal y puesto bajo SupervisiĂłn Comunitaria Posterior a la LiberaciĂłn (PRCS, por sus siglas en inglĂ©s). HabĂa sido encarcelado por asalto con arma mortal y cargos de posesiĂłn de armas, sin relaciĂłn con la vĂctima de este incidente. Aroyo-LĂłpez actualmente es buscado por detectives y existe una orden de homicidio activa para su arresto. Si ve a Aroyo-Lopez, llame al 911. Aroyo-Lopez debe considerarse armado y peligroso, asĂ que no se comunique con Ă©l.
Los detectives del SRPD continĂşan investigando este homicidio y les gustarĂa hablar con cualquier persona que tenga informaciĂłn potencialmente relacionada con este incidente. Cualquier persona que tenga informaciĂłn sobre esta investigaciĂłn puede comunicarse con el equipo VCI del SRPD al 707-543-3590 o a travĂ©s de nuestra lĂnea de informaciĂłn en lĂnea: www.srcity.org/CrimeTips. El Fondo de Recompensas de Seguridad y ParticipaciĂłn Comunitaria de la Alianza del Condado de Sonoma ofrece una recompensa de hasta $2,500. La recompensa es por informaciĂłn que conduzca al arresto del sospechoso o sospechosos involucrados en este apuñalamiento.
Cuando Aroyo López esté bajo custodia, es posible que se divulgue más información relacionada con las circunstancias del homicidio.
Caso nĂşmero 23-13955 del Departamento de PolicĂa de Santa Rosa