The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department has arrested one of two suspects connected with the July 8 shooting death of Ceres resident Natasha Irrizary, a mother of three.

Juan Carlos Martinez, 31, was arrested at a car stop at Highway 99 and Carpenter Road last week. He was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center for homicide, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Investigators with the department’s Major Crimes Unit are looking for help locating 36-year-old Luis Vega related to the homicide. Vega is wanted for homicide, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and conspiracy to commit a crime. He is considered armed and dangerous and described as being 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds. If spotted, persons should call 911 immediately. Those with information on his whereabouts or the case should contact Detective Juan Rodriguez at (209) 567-4485; or submit anonymous tips by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 or go to www.stancrimetips.org. 

Natasha Irizarry, 34, of Ceres, had been shot multiple times outside the Driftwood Inn, 1024 South Ninth Street. Her death leaves a huge void within her family, which included three girls, aged 13, 14 and 16. To support her family she worked as a filler operator with SunOpta in Modesto, drove for Uber and was paid to care for her diabetic and amputee mother and her 88-year-old grandmother suffering from dementia.

Valaree Gonzalez created a GoFundMe page to raise money for Irizarry’s funeral expenses and to make sure her girls are taken care of. As of Tuesday morning the page had raised $6,250 of the $10,000 goal.