Suspect arrested in 22-year-old cold case murder in California

A suspect has been arrested over two decades after he allegedly fatally shot a man in California, according to authorities.

Corey Sampson, 45, from Hesperia, was arrested on Thursday, roughly 22 years after allegedly gunning down Israel Rangel in Moreno Valley, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

On the evening of Sept. 1, 2004, cops found Rangel, 29, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds after arriving at the scene on Perris Boulevard, police said.

Rangel was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, cops added.

After an “extensive investigation,” investigators identified Sampson as a suspect in the murder, but insufficient evidence to press charges against him led the case to go cold, authorities added.

Investigators recently reexamined the fatal shooting and followed up on “several leads,” prompting authorities to reopen the case.

Sufficient evidence was developed to support Sampson’s arrest before cops cuffed him with help from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Gang Impact Team, cops said.

The relationship between Sampson and Rangel, nor a motive in the shooting, is immediately clear. Police did not clarify what evidence led to a break in the case.

Sampson was taken to Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility and booked on a murder charge.