“I looked like a screaming banshee. I was so excited, but I was sad at the same time because nothing is going to bring him back.”
The family of a Vacaville man found shot to death in his truck at William Land Park says they feel one step closer to justice after Sacramento police announced an arrest.
The Sacramento Police Department said Thursday that 36-year-old Jonathan Brito is in custody in connection with the death of 34-year-old James Daniel Maciulla.
Maciulla’s brother, Peter Alcala-Maciulla, said he and his mother were on their way to pick up Daniel’s truck from impound when they got the call from investigators.
“They notified us that they had picked up the suspect in my brother’s case,” he said.
His cousin, Monique Alcala-Duran, said she was overwhelmed when she heard the news.
“I looked like a screaming banshee. I was so excited, but I was sad at the same time, you know, because nothing’s going to bring him back.”
Police found Maciulla shot to death in his truck on Thurs, Aug 14. That weekend, his family gathered at a vigil to honor him and demand justice.
“He’s always been there for everybody. If you needed anything, he’d give you the shirt off of his back,” Alcala-Duran said.
The family says they are grateful for the arrest but still don’t know why Daniel was killed or how his truck ended up at the park that morning. “Why?” Alcala-Duran asked. “Yeah, just all goes down to a funnel of why,” Peter added.
They plan to attend Brito’s first court appearance Monday. “Anxious a little bit to see him tomorrow in court,” Peter said.
Alcala-Duran said the family will continue to show up. “I want him to see my face every time he goes in that courtroom to know who he took from us. Our family is planning to show up every court date. We will be there to have justice for Daniel.”
She added that Thurs, Sep 11, the day police called with news of the arrest, will forever carry new meaning for the family.
“My faith in the justice system has been renewed because you know a lot of people that have these issues, they don’t get to see their justice,” she said.
The family credited Sacramento police and community members who called 911 and turned in surveillance video for helping lead to the arrest. Later this month, they plan to attend an event at the Capitol for parents of murder victims to show their support for Daniel and others.