Crime & Safety

Santa Cruz Police Name Second Suspect in Home Invasion

There is a $250,000 warrant for the arrest of Esteban Lopez, 22, who allegedly held a family captive and stole from their home.

Santa Cruz Police have named a second suspect in the violent home robbery of a couple Wednesday morning at 4:30.

Esteban Lopez, 22, a "Beach Flats" gang member, has been charged with robbery, false imprisonment, burglary and assault with a deadly weapon. A second man, Cuactemoc Xilonzochilt-Zamora, 28, of Santa Cruz, was arrested after a husband and wife subdued him on their front yard.

The alleged robbers grabbed a sword and screwdriver from inside the house and woke the couple up in their bedroom, demanding money. After they tried to tie up the couple with duct tape, they broke free and fought the robbers.

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There were children in the house. One of them called police, who arrived and arrested Xilonzochilt-Zamora as he was being held down in the Branciforte neighborhood home's front yard.

Police are looking for Lopez, described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 130 pounds. 

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