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Alfonso Inestroza, who was arrested in Hollister on March 5 in connection with a fatal shooting in Sunnyvale, was already wanted for a 2025 homicide in Trenton, New Jersey, and entered the U.S. illegally multiple times, according to a March 30 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) news release.
The release also criticized Santa Clara County officials for not honoring federal immigration detainer warrants involving Inestroza.
Also known as Franquin Inestroza-Martinez, Inestroza is the primary suspect in the murder of 24-year-old single mother Kembery Chirinos-Flores, as reported in BenitoLink on March 23.
According to a Sunnyvale Police news release, officers responded to reports of a shooting in Sunnyvale on Jan. 7, 2025. Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement found Chirinos-Flores bleeding in her car with multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene and left behind a five-year-old son, whose father, 32-year-old Gerzon Chirinos-Munguia, is the second suspect.
Also, a criminal complaint later revealed a third man not initially identified at a March 9 news conference —30-year-old Jorge Bolaños Guerra—was accused of aiding and abetting in the killing. All three men were charged with murder and conspiracy. A warrant was sought for Bolaños, who was not listed in jail custody as of the time of the filing. As of April 3, there was no record that Bolaños had been apprehended.
According to the DHS press release, “On June 12, 2013, Inestroza-Martinez, a Honduran national, was caught illegally entering the United States by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. He was arrested and removed. On Feb. 1, 2018, he was caught illegally re-entering the United States—a felony—and removed a second time. He illegally entered the United States a third time at an unknown date and time.”
Furthermore, according to the press release: “Inestroza-Martinez also had an outstanding arrest warrant from New Jersey for the homicide of 55-year-old Esteban Vicente Sacalxot, who was found dead in his Trenton home from gunshot wounds on March 17, 2025.”
The release also stated: “On May 18, 2015, Chirinos-Munguia, a Honduran national, was caught illegally entering the country by CBP agents and was later removed. At an unknown place and time, he illegally re-entered the United States—a felony—and has been illegally living in the country. On Sept. 20, 2019, Chirinos-Munguia was arrested in Santa Clara County for domestic battery and threatening crime with the intent of terrorizing. He has an additional arrest in April 2018 for battery and false imprisonment. He shares a child with his victim Kembery Chirinos-Flores.”
DHS claimed local policies prevented cooperation with immigration enforcement that allowed both suspects to remain in the community despite their immigration status. DHS officials argued that the lack of coordination hindered federal efforts, placing responsibility in part on so-called sanctuary policies in Santa Clara County.
Sunnyvale authorities allege Inestroza-Martinez was the “triggerman” who fired a shotgun twice into the car window killing Chirinos-Flores. Inestroza had apparently been living in the Hollister area prior to his arrest. The investigation into the Sunnyvale homicide led officers to San Benito County, where he was taken into custody without incident.
At the time of his arrest, authorities confirmed Inestroza-Martinez was wanted in connection with the March 2025 killing in Trenton, New Jersey.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued an arrest detainer asking Santa Clara officials to not release Chirinos-Munguia following his arrests for domestic battery and false imprisonment. Instead of turning him over to ICE, he was released.
The DHS statement placed particular emphasis on Santa Clara County policies, asserting that local officials declined to cooperate fully with ICE.
According to the agency, detainer requests were not honored, a factor DHS said contributed to the suspects remaining at large prior to their eventual arrests.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office has not responded to BenitoLink’s requests for a response to DHS claims or the likely prosecution of the three men.
Meanwhile, the Trenton homicide remains an open case awaiting prosecution. Authorities there identified Inestroza as the primary suspect shortly after the 2025 killing and issued a warrant for his arrest. His apprehension in California came nearly a year later.
As both cases move forward—one in California and another pending in New Jersey—additional details are expected to emerge through court filings, extradition proceedings, and potential federal involvement.
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