Investigator Hugo Arango was shot and killed while questioning two individuals who were suspected of breaking into vehicles in a nightclub parking lot.
Investigator Arango, who was in uniform, was flagged down by a club patron and asked to check on the two who had been seen around several cars in the parking lot. As Investigator Arango was searching one of the suspects, he located a handgun on the suspect and a struggle ensued.
The suspect fired the weapon, striking Investigator Arango in the leg and club manager in the jaw. The suspect then shot Investigator Arango again, with the bullet striking his badge. As the officer laid there, he was shot in the head execution style, which killed him. The two suspects fled the scene, but one of them left his wallet behind. He was arrested five days later after a manhunt involving over 500 officers.
The suspect was charged with capital murder. On June 25, 2003, he was sentenced to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole after 32 years.
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On May 13, 2000 just after midnight, while on duty, Detective Arango responded to a report of subjects breaking into cars at Eclipse night club in Doraville, Ga. Detective Arango found two subjects matching the description given and confronted the subjects. While performing a pat down search of one of the subjects, Detective Arango located a hand gun in his waistband. At this time a struggle ensued and Detective Arango and the perpetrator fought over the gun. The night club manager, David Contreras, attempted to come to the aid of Detective Arango but was shot in the face by the perpetrator.
As a result Mr. Contrereas is now blind in one eye. After shooting Mr. Contreras the perpetrator then turned the gun on Detective Arango shooting him in the left leg, left side of the head, and one through his Police Department issued badge. The shots to the head and to the badge were done at close range. As Detective Arango laid in the parking lot incapacitated, the perpetrator and the second subject fled the location. Detective Arango was unable to call for help however a club patron picked up his in car radio and began yelling for help. Doraville Police department units responded and administered CPR until he was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. In what was considered at the time the largest manhunt by law enforcement agencies in the history of the State of Georgia, this cop killer was apprehended several days later hiding in the woods near a horse farm where he had been held up.