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Suspected getaway driver finally caught in 2004 murder

TPD Detective Vincent Mauro says he's never forgotten that third suspect, who is now finally behind bars.
January 2004 -- Two gunmen walk into Tamara's carryout at Erie and Columbus. They opened fire even before demanding cash.
As owner Fuad Shalan pled for his and his wife's life, Misada Shalan was already dead.
Two suspects were caught, but the one who police say was able to get away was Yvan Garcia.
TPD Detective Mauro says, "It's not like the police department forgets... we got two out of three, and that's good enough... He was a part of it right from the start."

Toledo police say he went on the run for four years, ut is finally behind bars.

He's now facing charges for aggravated murder.

News 11's Lisa Rantala reported live with the new details on a case that stirred plenty of community emotion.

Police say a couple, the owners of a north Toledo carry out were working one night.. just playing cards. That's when two gunmen came in, opened fire and killed her on the spot.

They are already serving life sentences, but the suspected getaway driver just got caught and is now at the Lucas County Jail.

January 2004 -- Two gunmen walk into Tamara's carryout at Erie and Columbus. They opened fire even before demanding cash.

Det. Vincent Mauro of the Toledo Police Department tells News 11, "The couple wasn't about to put up any fight. As a matter of fact, Mr. Shalan immediately started saying 'Take what you want. Take what you want.'"

As owner Fuad Shalan pled for his and his wife's life, Misada Shalan was already dead. Detective Mauro says, "They went in and robbed the place. They got a hundred dollars, and somebody was killed."

Mauro worked the case since day one. He was able to arrest gunman Ronald Whitfield days after the murder and gunman Pedro Diaz a year later. Both are now serving life sentences.

In November of 2005, the victim's step son, Tarek Shalan, told News 11, "They're animals. They're not people. They shouldn't be on the streets, and I think they should get what they deserve. They should get the same thing as they do, honestly. I'm not supposed to say that, but that's how I feel."

But the one who police say was able to get away was Yvan Garcia. Mauro explains, "Yvan Garcia's roll -- He was the driver of the getaway car, and he came up with the idea for doing it."

That is -- until now. U.S. Marshals picked up Garcia in Dallas and brought him back to Toledo Thursday. He now sits in jail on a million dollar bond. Mauro says, "It's not like the police department forgets... we got two out of three, and that's good enough... He was a part of it right from the start."

Even though Shalan's husband has already moved back to the Middle East, Detective Mauro says her family can finally have their closure. "They wanted all three people caught and have to face justice, and they're going to get that now."

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