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Arrest Made In Cold Case Murder Of Father, Infant

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Four years after the brutal shooting deaths of a young Sacramento father and his infant son, Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies made an arrest in the case.

Deputies arrested Donald Ortez-Lucero Monday morning at a home in Oakland in connection with the 2007 shooting deaths of Sean Paul Aquitania Sr. and his 7-month-old son Sean Paul Jr.

Aquitania's parents and the baby's mother both issued hand-written statements to CBS13's Ron Jones.

"I am so grateful this arrest has been made," Monique Delacruz, Sean Jr.'s mother, wrote. "This is a day our family have been waiting for. Thanks to all who have assisted in this case."

"At this time we are extremely happy about the arrest," Sarah and Ferdinand Aquitania wrote in their statement. "We are grateful to the sheriff's department and all the agencies who have been instrumental in making this day a reality."

Detectives believe Aquitania drove with his son, Sean Paul Aquitania Jr., to a south Sacramento home to visit friends on Sept. 14, 2007.

"We know Mr. Lucero was on the scene of the crime," said sheriff's Detective Brian Meux. "We still definitely believe this was a home invasion robbery."

Sean Aquitania and his son had just arrived at the home, not knowing what was going on inside.

"Sean and his son were just there at the wrong place at the wrong time trying to visit the people that live in the house," Meux said.

Detectives say while baby Sean was still in his car seat, one of the suspects ran outside, opened the car door and shot the child at close range in the back of the head.

Surveillance tape captured someone running up with the baby and begging a school bus driver for help. It was too late.

Benny Garcia trained Aquitania in the boxing ring for years.

"I wish i can bring him back but I can't," Garcia said. "That was like my son too. He was a great friend and he was a great fighter and he was one of the most loyal friends I've ever had."

Monday's arrest came about through a combination of witness statements and DNA evidence, deputies said.

At the time of the shooting, Sacramento County deputies released descriptions of two suspects. They said Monday that Ortez-Lucero is a third suspect.

A neighbor told CBS13's Checkey Beckford that Ortez-Lucero and other residents of the Oakland home where he was arrested Monday moved in a few months ago and kept to themselves.

A man who identified himself as Otrez-Lucero's uncle said the suspect worked for him at a tire store in San Francisco until a week ago. He said he didn't know of Ortez-Lucero's arrest until CBS13 told him.

Deputies also released two composite sketches of one of the suspects. He was described as a light skinned male, possibly Hispanic or white, mid to late 20s, 5 feet, 9 inches tall, 180-220 pounds, and clean shaven except for a light-colored mustache. He was last seen wearing a green Oakland A's baseball cap and a white pullover shirt with green sleeves and the word "Athletics" on the front.

A sketch of a second suspect was not made because he was wearing a mask. However, he was described as a black male in his mid to late 20s and 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-2. Authorities say he was wearing a multi-colored hooded sweatshirt, a possibly red and black baseball cap, and a multi-colored bandana on his face.

Deputies believe the second suspect may have been shot during the incident and may have been treated for a leg injury in San Francisco.

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