November 6, 2009 –  Four men accused in the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy on Highway 54 were in custody Friday, police said.

Three of suspects were arrested Thursday by police detectives investigating the death of Jose Roman, according to the Chula Vista Police Department. The fourth was already serving time in Donovan State Prison on an unrelated case.

Roman was one of three males in a vehicle that was fired upon on Highway 54, near the Fourth Avenue and Highland Avenue off-ramp, around 4:00 p.m. October 12.  The vehicle was merging onto Highway 54 from northbound I-5 when four males in a second vehicle allegedly tried to provoke a race.

According to police, hand gestures and words were exchanged between occupants of both vehicles before one of the occupants of the second vehicle brandished a handgun and shot numerous rounds into the first vehicle. Roman, a passenger in the first vehicle, was shot and killed.

The suspects in the second vehicle were William Mace, 25, of Bonita; Armando Pelayo, 22, of San Diego; John Smith, 24, of Imperial Beach; and Miguel Pelayo, 27, of San Diego. Mace, Smith and the younger Pelayo were booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of murder Thursday.

The older Pelayo is currently serving time in Donovan State Prison. He will be booked on suspicion of murder at a later time, police said.