Escaped California inmate wanted for killing leader of elite Mexican police unit arrested after a week-long manhunt

An escaped California inmate who was wanted in connection with the death of the leader of an elite Mexican police unit was arrested after a week-long manhunt, officials said.

Cesar Hernandez, who was serving 80 years to life for first-degree murder before escaping from custody in December, was arrested Thursday evening in the northern city of Tijuana. He was wanted for the shooting death 33-year-old Abigail Esparza Reyes, the leader of the unit known as "Gringo Hunters," which dedicates itself to arresting U.S. suspects who are fugitives in Mexico. She was the head of the unit at the northern border state of Baja California.

Esparza Reyes died during a shootout on April 9 in Tijuana while the unit was trying to arrest Hernandez.