A 34-year-old man, Nicolas Soares, has been arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, after 15 years on the run. He faces charges in the United States for the 2010 murder of Herbert Caniza in Miami, Florida.
U.S. authorities said Soares shot and killed Caniza on September 7, 2010, during a failed robbery. He had gone to the victim’s home to steal cash and marijuana. When Caniza opened the door, Soares shot him in the chest.
Police found a “Warner Brothers” T-shirt used as a mask at the scene. Witnesses later linked Soares to the purchase of the same shirt before the murder. Miami police issued an arrest warrant soon after the killing.
Investigations revealed that Soares fled the U.S. with help from his mother, who arranged his travel to Brazil. He later moved to Africa, where he hid for years. Officers finally tracked him to Nairobi, where Kenyan police arrested him.
The arrest followed joint efforts between U.S. and Kenyan authorities. Soares was extradited to Miami to face charges of second-degree murder and armed robbery.
He has appeared before a Miami-Dade court and is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Miami police called the arrest the end of a 15-year international manhunt.
The case highlights growing cooperation between nations in fighting crime. U.S. authorities praised Kenyan police for their role in securing justice for Caniza’s family.
Soares is expected to stand trial later this year, closing a long chapter in a case that began over a decade ago.
