Suspect arrested in connection with 2022 murder of San Leandro Kaiser security guard

(KRON) — A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the 2022 killing of an armored guard at a Kaiser Permanente in San Leandro, San Leandro police said. Artemio Torres, 28, was arrested May 27 in Oxnard.

The guard was shot Sept. 7, 2022, at 2500 Merced St. on the Kaiser campus and died the next day. The suspected shooter, Akbar Bey, a 28-year-old Oakland man, was arrested in October 2022. Torres is believed to be Bey's getaway driver.

Torres was arrested after his car was stopped by the California Highway Patrol for a vehicle registration violation. He provided a false identity to the officer, but was ultimately identified as a suspect with an open warrant for his arrest in connection with the Kaiser shooting.

The SLPD believes Torres fled California after the fatal shooting.

The shooting victim was identified as John Mendez, a 61-year-old Vallejo resident who worked in GardaWorld security for nearly 40 years before his death. Police said Mendez was collecting money at the hospital before the shooter shot him and took his bag of money.

Torres was extradited to Alameda County on June 3, where he will face robbery charges. There are no outstanding suspects in connection with this case.