FBI Offers $1M Reward for 'Top Ten Most Wanted' California Murder Suspect

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The FBI is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Omar Alexander Cardenas, a 30-year-old man who is on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Cardenas is accused of fatally shooting a man in the head during a 2019 incident at a large outdoor shopping center in Sylmar, California, immediately next to Los Angeles.

Why it matters

The high-profile reward and Cardenas' placement on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list indicate the seriousness of the crime and the authorities' determination to apprehend him. The shooting incident has raised concerns about public safety in the Sylmar area and the broader Los Angeles region.

The details

According to authorities, on August 15, 2019, Cardenas allegedly fired several rounds from a semi-automatic handgun, striking a man in the head and causing his death. A local arrest warrant was issued for Cardenas on April 3, 2020, in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, where he was charged with murder. On September 2, 2021, a federal arrest warrant was issued in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California after he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

• The shooting incident occurred on August 15, 2019.
• A local arrest warrant was issued for Cardenas on April 3, 2020.
• A federal arrest warrant was issued on September 2, 2021.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.