BALTIMORE — The gunman accused of killing a Patterson High School student earlier this month was arrested while trying to flee the country, Baltimore police said Monday.
Roger Alexander Alvarado-Mendoza, 23, was taken into custody in Texas, based on a tip witnesses provided to investigators, according to police.
"This incident is yet another tragic reminder of the level of violence that continues to trouble our city," said Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison, in a Monday afternoon press conference at City Hall.
Mendoza is currently awaiting extradition for the March 6 murder of 16-year-old Izaiah Carter.
Harrison said Mendoza had a prior arrest in the City for a 2018 burglary and also a criminal record in Florida.
RELATED: Patterson High School student shot, killed at Joseph E. Lee Park
Police revealed no potential motive leading up to Carter's shooting inside Joseph Lee Park. It's not believed Mendoza attended Patterson High School.
"I don’t think that it’s fair that a young man [lost] his life," said Cesar Romero, leader of the Bayview Neighborhood Association.
A day after the shooting, Romero and other neighbors walked the park to remember Carter.
Romero said he's planning to plant a tree there in Carter's honor.
"This community is so strong. We knew we were going to get this person," he said.
Carter's funeral is scheduled for Tuesday morning at the March Funeral Home. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family cover costs.
