On May 3, 2024, at approximately 11 p.m., 41-year-old Vitaliy Zaytsev was fatally shot outside his residence on Hillridge Way near Will Rogers Drive in Fair Oaks, California. Zaytsev, a well-respected manager at a CVS store in Folsom, was found by deputies inside his vehicle, parked in his driveway, suffering from gunshot wounds to the head. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
Investigations by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office revealed that Zaytsev had just arrived home and was seated in his car when another vehicle approached. One of the occupants exited and fired three rounds into Zaytsev's vehicle, resulting in his death. The assailants then fled the scene.
In the days following the homicide, detectives identified three suspects connected to the crime. On May 6, 2024, Michael Espinosa, 40, and Miguel Esquibel, 36, were apprehended in Caldwell, Idaho, with assistance from the Boise FBI and local law enforcement agencies. Both were held on probation violations pending extradition to Sacramento County to face murder charges.
A third suspect, 57-year-old Jeannette Nunes, was arrested on May 9, 2024, in San Jose, California. Investigators believe Nunes had a prior romantic relationship with Zaytsev. She was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on charges of murder and conspiracy, with no bail eligibility.
The motive behind the orchestrated attack remains under investigation. Authorities have not disclosed specific details regarding the relationships among the suspects or their connection to the victim beyond Nunes' previous relationship with Zaytsev. The community mourns the loss of Zaytsev, remembered by colleagues and customers as a well-liked and respected individual who will be greatly missed.
