Arrest made in 1998 armed robbery, double murder

LAWRENCEVILLE - Thirteen years after an armed robbery and double murder at a Lawrenceville restaurant, a suspect has been arrested.

The FBI said William Alexander Zepeda, 37, originally from El Salvador, was arrested Monday night in Austin, Texas during an alien smuggling sweep. Zepeda is believed to be responsible for an April 6, 1998 armed robbery of a restaurant in which the manager and employee of the restaurant were shot to death execution style.

On April 7, 1998, an arrest warrant was issued for Zepeda by the Gwinnett County Superior Court and Zepeda was charged with murder and armed robbery. On April 20, 1998, a federal complaint was filed and an arrest warrant was issued in the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta, charging Zepeda with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Chief Randy Johnson, Lawrenceville Police Department, stated, "Thirteen years is a long time for two families to wait for the arrest of Zepeda. Hopefully this arrest will bring closure for these families who lost loved ones in this terrible crime."

FBI agents said Zepeda is jailed in Austin awaiting extradition to Georgia.