Fred Perez, a 72-year-old man from Santa Cruz, California, was tragically shot and killed on the morning of February 13, 1973, while working in his yard near his home. Perez, who came from one of the oldest pioneer families in Santa Cruz, was engaged in yard work when he was suddenly ambushed by a gunman from a distance of approximately 75 yards. The attack was described by law enforcement as a senseless act with no apparent motive.
Authorities quickly responded to the scene after a
neighbor reported hearing a gunshot and witnessing a station wagon leaving the area. A sheriff's deputy, who was returning home from his shift, initially thought Perez had suffered a heart attack and attempted to reassure him before realizing the severity of the situation. Police arrived moments later and pursued the suspect's vehicle.
The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Herbert William Mullin, was apprehended by police minutes after the killing. Mullin was stopped while driving a blue Chevrolet station wagon on River Street near Coral Street. He surrendered without resistance. Officers discovered a rifle in his vehicle, which was believed to have been used in the attack. Mullin, who had a history of erratic behavior, did not provide any statements to police except to request that his civil rights be observed.
Perez was well known in the local fishing industry, with his family having deep roots in the business. His grandfather and three uncles had been involved in retail fishing, and Perez himself had served in China during World War I. After the war, he pursued a career in professional boxing under the name Freddie Bell for three years before retiring. In his later years, he enjoyed fishing and working around his yard.
Mullin was later convicted of multiple murders, including the killing of Perez, and was sentenced to life in prison. His crimes contributed to Santa Cruz's grim reputation as the 'murder capital of the world' during the early 1970s, a period marked by multiple serial killers operating in the area. Mullin became eligible for parole in 1982 under California's sentencing laws, but his parole has been denied multiple times, with the most recent denial occurring in March 2021.
