NEW ROCKFORD, N.D. — North Dakota authorities continued to search Monday night, Jan. 27, for a suspect wanted in connection to a fatal drive-by shooting in northern California.
Alma Ahumada is sought by California authorities for her alleged involvement in the August 2019 murder of 26-year-old Johnny Mack Renfro, who was shot from a passing car in Rio Dell, a city near the Pacific Coast in Humboldt County.
Ahumada managed to elude authorities Sunday when Eddy County authorities learned that she and primary suspect, 39-year-old Demetrius Coleman, were staying at the Bison Lodge in New Rockford, about 50 miles north of Jamestown.
Coleman had been tracked by California police first to Sacramento and then to Idaho, according to a statement from the city of Rio Dell published in local media . Eventually, Rio Dell police said they tracked Coleman to an area near Fargo and notified local authorities that he was in North Dakota.
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When deputies investigated the hotel on Sunday, Jan. 26, Coleman and Ahumada ran away, according to Eddy County authorities. Deputies tracked Coleman to a small building behind the lodge and eventually apprehended him without using force after getting into the building, but Ahumada was able to escape.
Coleman was brought to the Stutsman County Jail in Jamestown and will be extradited to California, where he will face a murder charge in connection to the fatal drive-by shooting, according to the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office.
The city of Rio Dell said in a news release that their police chief was traveling to North Dakota on Monday to assist local law enforcement officials in their investigation.
Ahumada is still wanted on a warrant for murder and conspiracy. Police described her as 5 feet, 2 inches tall and Hispanic with brown eyes and brown hair. Authorities said they do not believe there is a threat to the public.
Anyone with information about her is asked to call the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office at 701-947-5515.
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Alma Ahumada.
