Man Relocated to Lafayette In Jail Post-Release Program Sought for Richmond Murder

A 27-year-old man relocated to Lafayette after a domestic violence conviction last year has a history of arrests for weapons violations and violent crimes, police said Tuesday, and is being sought in connection with the Aug. 5 murder of a 16-year-old Richmond youth.

Matthew John Capanis was named by Richmond police Tuesday as a suspect in the shooting death of Ulises Grijalva in Richmond Sunday night. Capanis, described as armed and dangerous, was relocated to a home in Lafayette in October 2011 following his conviction for domestic violence per California's prison realingment plan -- AB 109.

Richmond police spokesperson Bisa French said Capanis has had numerous arrests for weapons violations and a succession of violent crimes in Contra Costa County. He is the second man named as a suspect in Grijalva's murder -- parolee Jacob Stephens, 29, of Antioch was allegedly arrested while fleeing the scene of the shooting.

Grijalva was found fatally wounded at 121 W. Macdonald Ave. in Richmond after police received reports of shots fired at 9:30 p.m., French said.

Capanis is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds. He has brown eyes and hair. His arms and back are covered in tattoos.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Richmond police detectives Wentz at (510) 621-1259 or Wellhausen at (510) 620-6860.

Bay City News Service