The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

One of three suspects arrested in death of woman in Lancaster

by •

Authorities said one of the three pictured suspects — Jajuan Welch-Arroyo  –turned himself in on March 31 and was arrested on suspicion of murdering Samantha Mena (inset, image via Facebook). Investigators need the public’s help to identify and locate the other two murder suspects.

LANCASTER – One of three suspects has been arrested in the killing of Samantha Mena, a woman who died after being struck by a vehicle whose occupants had just tried to rob her and her boyfriend in Lancaster, authorities said.

Jajuan Welch-Arroyo, 26, surrendered to authorities on Wednesday, March 31, and was booked on suspicion of murder, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He is being held with no bail. The two other suspects remain at large.

The fatal incident happened around 8:20 p.m. Friday, March 26, at an apartment complex in the 44000 block of 15th Street West, according to a news release by the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

“The pictured suspects were involved in an attempted robbery at a residential complex when victim Samantha [Mena] tried to stop them. While the suspects fled to their vehicle, she followed them. During the course of this incident, the suspects entered their vehicle and ran over the victim as they fled the scene,” the news release states.

Mena, 31, died at a hospital. Investigators this week released security images of the suspects, described as men in their 20s, and sought public help to identify them.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

Previous related stories:

Help LASD investigators ID Lancaster murder suspects

Woman killed in Lancaster, investigation underway

7 comments for "One of three suspects arrested in death of woman in Lancaster"

  2. Well, with Gascan as our county prosecutor, I’m sure these three will get to serve 90 days in prison, be paroled and then offered free housing and scholarships.

    • To make it to prision your sentence is over a year. You dont get months in prison unless you do have of a sentence meaning…..sentence to 16 months in prison which is over a year but only do half which Is 8 months. A year or less is county time and thus murder has special circumstances behind it they shouldnt get off so easy but the justice system is confused itself no matter race you are. U pray they get what they deserve just a lesson to us all we cant bring a knife to a gun fight. Meaning I wish she didnt confront those idiots without something or someone who could had protected her stopping her or a weapon to help her. Sad praying for her family and boyfriend

      • Definitely don’t bring a knife to an “I’ll stop you by standing in front of your car” fight.

        It’s nice to see someone comment who is correct and knowledgeable, but it is not likely to have any effect on “Raul.” He is trying to stoke outrage and impervious to fact.

        Regrets on your loss to those who are grieving.

        • She shouldn’t have ran out there, but she didn’t jump in front of the car. She was knocked down, probably kind out. She was lying in the street by the curb and they ran over her and fled to IHOP on K. Yes I have first hand knowledge of what happened. Sad case all around.

    • None of this is right. And its heart braking but 1 of the three turned himself in he could have still been on the run like the other 2. I wonder what role he actually played in this sad tragedy. Atleast 1 of them felt remorse.