Suspect Charged With Murder & Attempted Murder Arrested In Barcelona Through International Law Enforcement Cooperation
Monday, February 9, 2026, 1:40 P.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
CAMDEN, NJ.- An international fugitive wanted in connection with a deadly March 2025 shooting in Camden has been apprehended overseas, authorities announced.
Felix De La Cruz-Arias, 30, of Brooklyn, New York, was taken into custody on January 30, 2026, in Barcelona, Spain, by the Spanish National Police working in collaboration with the U.S. Marshals Service, Office of International Operations, and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs.
The arrest was jointly reported by Grace C. MacAulay, Nicholas Ricigliano, and Gabriel Rodriguez.
De La Cruz-Arias was charged on April 4, 2025, with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Josue Hiraldo-Peralta, 32, of Camden. He was also charged with first-degree attempted murder for shooting a second man who survived.
According to investigators, on March 12, 2025, at approximately 10:29 p.m., members of the Camden County Police Department responded to a ShotSpotter activation reporting gunfire in the area of the 300 block of Morse Street in the City of Camden.
Upon arrival, Police Officers located Hiraldo-Peralta lying outside on the ground suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers then located a second victim inside a nearby residence suffering from a gunshot wound. Both victims were transported to Cooper University Hospital for medical treatment. Hiraldo-Peralta was pronounced deceased at approximately 11:05 p.m.
Detectives from the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the Camden County Police Department conducted a joint investigation and determined that De La Cruz-Arias was responsible for the shooting.
During the fugitive investigation, CCPO Senior Detective Stephen Bezich, a task force officer with the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, Camden Division, developed information that led authorities to the defendant’s whereabouts in Spain.
De La Cruz-Arias is currently being held in a correctional facility in Spain pending extradition proceedings to the United States.
“De La Cruz-Arias’s arrest in Spain highlights the strength of international law enforcement cooperation,” Ricigliano said. “The Spanish National Police are to be commended for tenaciously pursuing this fugitive while working hand in hand with the U.S. Marshals Service. Through strong international partnerships, our ability to locate and apprehend fugitives beyond our borders is unmatched.”
Ricigliano added that similar international cooperation resulted in the arrests of two Camden County fugitives last year in Mexico and Ukraine, noting that efforts to evade justice by fleeing the country are rarely successful.
“This arrest sends a clear message that violence in our community will be pursued wherever it leads, even across international borders,” MacAulay said. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners and remain focused on justice for the victims and their families.”
Authorities continue to seek information related to the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Cody Skinner of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit at (856) 580-6053 or Detective Matthew Blantz of the Camden County Police Department at (609) 923-6853. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through CAMDEN.TIPS.
Extradition proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks as De La Cruz-Arias awaits transfer back to the United States to face the charges against him.
Editor’s Note:
All information in this report was provided by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, the Camden County Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service. Charges referenced are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. This report will be updated as extradition proceedings continue and additional information becomes available.
