On the evening of February 5, 2024, police were dispatched to the Parkwood Trailer Park on South First Street in Jacksonville, Arkansas, following reports of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they discovered 65-year-old Julio Cesar Diego-Lopez inside a residence, deceased from a gunshot wound. Friends and loved ones remembered Diego-Lopez, who was born in Juayúa, El Salvador, as a very friendly and kind person whose dedication and love for life left a lasting impression on those who knew him.
The investigation into the homicide quickly developed, and authorities identified 20-year-old Lesly Yarelzy Moreno as a person of interest. Law enforcement sought public assistance in locating her for questioning in connection with the shooting death of Diego-Lopez. The search for Moreno culminated on February 20, 2024, when U.S. Marshals located and arrested her in Pine Bluff. She was taken into custody without incident.
Following Moreno's apprehension, the investigation continued to progress, leading to the arrest of a second suspect. Elisha Claiborn, 19, was also implicated in the crime. Both Moreno and Claiborn were subsequently charged with capital murder and aggravated robbery in the death of Julio Cesar Diego-Lopez, bringing a measure of progress to a case that had ended a man's life and unsettled a community.
