A second suspect is being extradited to North Carolina from Los Angeles to face murder charges stemming from a Carrboro shooting in May.

A release from the Carrboro Police Department on Thursday said 30-year-old Dolores De Jesus Benavides Zelaya is identified as a second person allegedly involved in the murder of Juan Maldonado Espinoza at the Estes Park Apartments complex. Benavides Zelaya, who is a Burlington resident, was arrested in Los Angeles by law enforcement on July 31 and is in the process of being brought back to North Carolina. He faces charges of fist degree murder, felony conspiracy, and felony attempted kidnapping.

Dolores De Jesus Benavides Zelaya, 30. (Photo via the Carrboro Police Department.)

The trio of charges mirror those levied against 28-year-old Karla Maria Machuca, who was arrested in June also in Los Angeles, California. Machuca is also a Burlington resident — and Carrboro Police have previously shared they believe Machuca and Espinoza had an intimate relationship with each other. The local police department confirmed to Chapelboro on Thursday that Machuca and Benavides Zelaya are parents to a child together.

The shooting of Espinoza took place on May 29, with police responding to a call around 11:40 p.m. of gunfire to the apartment complex off Estes Drive Extension where Espinoza lived. Upon arrival, Carrboro Police officers found a deceased adult male in the parking lot who was later identified as Espinoza. The department told Chapelboro there are no further public updates to the investigation being made available as of Thursday.

Carrboro Police say the investigation into Espinoza’s death is still ongoing and active, and the department is encouraging anyone who may have more information about the May 29 shooting to contact Investigator R. Trombley at 919-918-7415. Additionally, those who wish to share anonymous information can use the Chapel Hill-Carrboro-UNC CrimeStoppers hotline (919-942-7515) and website.

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