Second suspect named in July slaying of roofer

Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a second suspect in the July 9 slaying of a local roofer.

Cordney Cooper, 32, is accused of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death and robbery of Anibal Salguero, 31.

The arrest warrant was issued Tuesday, court records show, but Cooper remained at large going into the weekend.

A witness to the shooting told police on Jan. 5 that she knew the second suspect as Cordney and then identified him from a photo, court records show.

It wasn’t clear why the witness, Destry Gonzalez, waited six months to identify Cooper. Records describe the suspect as “a short stocky black male,” 5-feet-5 inches tall and 140 pounds.

Records show Salguero was in a vehicle with another worker after finishing a roofing job in the 900 block of West Ninth Street on July 9. They were listening to music when two men wearing masks walked up to the passenger side of the vehicle and started asking for money.

Records state that Salguero declined the masked men’s request, which resulted in one of them firing a “warning shot” within the vehicle. Salguero then exited the vehicle and attempted to grab the gun from the masked men. “Another shot rang out and that was when Anibal fell to the ground,” records show.

The two masked men ran from the scene, police said. Salguero was dead when rescue workers arrived at the scene.

Alex Zapata, 25, on July 10 was charged with murder in the case. Gonzalez, 19, and Jainene Velasquez, 32, were charged in connection with the armed robbery.

Police at the time said they were searching for a second murder suspect, but no arrest warrant was issued until last week.

Velasquez told police she was hanging out with Zapata and Gonzalez the day of the shooting. She said the two were talking about money and “how are we going to do this.”

Gonzalez, with an attorney accompanying her, told police on Jan. 5 that she was “under the impression” Zapata was planning on “scaring or beating up the guy to take his money.” She said she did not know Zapata and Cooper were planning to shoot anybody.

“She recollected Cordney firing first and then Alex firing but she does not know whose bullet struck where,” the affidavit for arrest of Cooper states.

Gonzalez said the two suspects then left the scene in separate vehicles.

Zapata is charged with murder in the first degree, accessory to armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery in the third degree, tampering with evidence, felon in possession of a firearm, and embezzlement of a motor vehicle. Records show he was released from custody in October pending trial in February 2025.

Gonzalez was charged with accessory to armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, harboring a felon and accessory to aggravated assault.

Velasquez was also arrested for conspiracy to commit armed robbery, harboring a felon and accessory to aggravated assault.

Gonzalez and Velasquez have been released from jail pending trial.