After months—and in some cases, years—of relentless pursuit, law enforcement agencies in the United States have made significant headway in bringing two high-profile fugitives to justice. In separate but equally dramatic cases, authorities have captured Martin Perez Jr., a California man accused of attempting to murder a sheriff’s deputy, and Savin Seng, a Cambodian national and alleged gang member wanted for two murders across two states. Both arrests, carried out with the help of cross-border cooperation and intensive investigations, mark a milestone in ongoing efforts to apprehend dangerous fugitives and address the challenges posed by interstate and international crime.
According to KTLA, the saga of Martin Perez Jr., 31, began on May 14, 2024, in Jurupa Valley, California. It was a seemingly routine traffic stop that spiraled into a life-threatening ordeal. Shortly after 6 p.m. that day, a Riverside County sheriff’s motor deputy attempted to pull Perez over near the intersection of Wineville and Limonite Avenues. Instead of yielding, Perez sped away, setting off a tense pursuit that would soon escalate. As the chase wound onto a dirt access road adjacent to 68th Street, west of Pats Ranch Road, Perez allegedly fired at the pursuing deputy. Miraculously, the deputy escaped unharmed, but the gravity of the crime—a brazen attempt on a law enforcement officer’s life—set off a sprawling manhunt.
What followed next was a scene straight out of a crime thriller. Perez abandoned his vehicle near the Santa Ana river bottom, vanishing into dense foliage before fleeing the area on foot. Authorities later determined he had crossed the border into Mexico, using various fake identities to elude capture. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit, refusing to let the trail go cold, continued to pursue leads. Their investigation eventually pinpointed Perez’s location in the Mexican state of Nayarit, where he was reportedly hiding out in the city of Tepic.
With the stakes high and the search stretching across international lines, the intelligence gathered by Riverside County was relayed to the U.S. Marshals Service Mexico Investigative Liaison team. In a coordinated effort with Mexican authorities—including the Fiscalía General del Estado de Nayarit, or State of Nayarit Prosecutor’s Office—Perez was finally apprehended on October 9, 2025, in Tepic. He was swiftly handed over to U.S. authorities at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and is now in Riverside County custody, awaiting an arraignment hearing scheduled for October 13 at the Hall of Justice in Riverside.
Officials from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office expressed deep gratitude for the international collaboration that led to Perez’s arrest. In a statement, they said, “The District Attorney’s Office would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the United States Marshals assigned to the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara and to the Fiscalía General del Estado de Nayarit (State of Nayarit, Mexico Prosecutor’s Office), whose efforts made the successful apprehension possible.” Their words underscored the complexity—and necessity—of cross-border law enforcement partnerships in today’s interconnected world.
Meanwhile, in another headline-grabbing case, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents scored a major victory with the October 3, 2025, arrest of Savin Seng, an illegal alien from Cambodia and alleged member of the notorious Asian Boys gang. As reported by Breitbart News, Seng’s criminal record and fugitive status had made him a top priority for law enforcement agencies in both California and Texas. He was wanted for two separate murders: the 2022 killing of a man outside a Los Angeles strip club and the recent murder of a woman in Victoria, Texas.
Seng’s capture did not come quietly. When ICE agents finally caught up with him, he was found in possession of a loaded firearm and an extra 32-round magazine—a violation that resulted in additional felony charges for illegal possession of a firearm. His arrest brought to an end a manhunt that had spanned multiple states and left a trail of fear and violence. The Department of Homeland Security’s Tricia McLaughlin minced no words in her reaction, stating, “Savin Seng’s multiple victims across California and Texas should be alive today — but this depraved criminal illegal alien and Asian Boys gang member savagely took their lives.” She added, “This serial criminal wreaked havoc across multiple states and was on the run before ICE law enforcement officers arrested him.”
McLaughlin’s comments also touched on the broader policy implications of Seng’s arrest. “President Trump and Secretary Noem are not going to allow gang members to terrorize American citizens. Our message is clear: criminal illegal aliens should leave now. If not, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you very well could end up in CECOT or a third country.” The statement, bold and unambiguous, reflects the current administration’s hardline approach to immigration enforcement and the removal of criminal non-citizens.
Seng’s criminal history is as troubling as it is lengthy. Prior to his most recent charges, he had been convicted twice of burglary, as well as aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Now, he faces murder charges in both California and Texas, and the prospect of a legal process that will likely draw considerable public attention.
The twin arrests of Perez and Seng highlight several key realities facing law enforcement today. First, the ability of fugitives to cross state and national borders—often using false identities or exploiting gaps in jurisdiction—poses a formidable challenge. Second, these cases underscore the importance of interagency and international cooperation. Without the combined efforts of local police, federal agencies, and foreign authorities, both men might still be at large.
But beyond the logistics and law enforcement tactics, these stories are also about the communities left reeling in the wake of violent crime. In Riverside County, the attempted murder of a deputy sent shockwaves through the sheriff’s department and the local population, reminding everyone of the dangers officers face on a daily basis. In California and Texas, the families of Seng’s alleged victims are left grappling with loss and seeking justice through the courts.
Politically, the cases have become flashpoints in ongoing debates over immigration, border security, and criminal justice policy. Supporters of tougher enforcement argue that swift action against fugitives like Seng is necessary to protect American lives and deter future crimes. Critics, meanwhile, caution against conflating immigration status with criminality and urge a more nuanced approach to reform. Regardless of where one stands, the high-profile nature of these arrests ensures they will remain part of the national conversation for some time to come.
As both Perez and Seng await their days in court, law enforcement officials are quick to point out that the work is far from over. Each arrest, they say, is a testament to the persistence of those tasked with upholding the law—and a reminder that, even when fugitives flee across borders, justice has a long reach.
