WANTED: Assistance Needed in Locating a Homicide Suspect

On Thursday, November 2, 2023, at approximately 3:40 pm, Santa Rosa Police officers responded to the 2500-block of Pomo Trail, Santa Rosa, regarding a possible homicide. When officers arrived on scene, they located a deceased female inside of the residence. The adult female victim had been decapitated. The victim’s head was not located at the residence. 

Detectives from SRPD Violent Crimes Investigations team assumed the investigation and began interviewing anyone who potentially had information about the incident. The initial investigation revealed Luis Gustavo Aroyo-Lopez, a 24-year-old resident of Santa Rosa and relative of the victim, killed the victim before leaving the scene. It is believed Aroyo-Lopez took the victim’s head with him when he left the residence and he may still be in possession of it.

Aroyo-Lopez is described as a Hispanic adult male, approximately 5-foot 6-inches tall, weighing approximately 150-pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a long-sleeve black hooded sweatshirt or jacket, black pants, and white shoes. Aroyo-Lopez has a large tattoo of “420” and a marijuana leaf on the left side of his head. Aroyo-Lopez is believed to have left the residence walking south on Iroquois Street. 

It is unknown currently where Aroyo-Lopez intends on going or what his current means of travel are. He has additional relatives in the San Joaquin Valley area, but it is unknown if that is his destination. 

Aroyo-Lopez was recently released from state prison and placed on Postrelease Community Supervision (PRCS). He had been incarcerated for assault with a deadly weapon and weapons possession charges, unrelated to the victim in this incident. Aroyo-Lopez is currently wanted by detectives and there is an active homicide warrant for his arrest. If you see Aroyo-Lopez, please call 911. Aroyo-Lopez should be considered armed and dangerous, so please do not contact him.

SRPD detectives are continuing to investigate this homicide and would like to speak with anyone who has information potentially related to this incident. Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact the SRPD VCI team at 707-543-3590 or through our online Tip Line: www.srcity.org/CrimeTips. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered by the Sonoma County Alliance Community Engagement and Safety Rewards Fund. The reward is for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved in this stabbing.

When Aroyo-Lopez is in custody, more information related to the circumstances of the homicide may be released. 

Santa Rosa Police Department case number 23-13955.

Media contact:

Sgt. Patricia Seffens
Public Information Officer
707-543-3634
pseffens@srcity.org