SANTA ANA, Calif. -- A Santa Ana man Wednesday was charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting an acquaintance in 1991, police said.

Jesus Gillermo Batiz Rosales, 69, was arrested Tuesday in Santa Ana as the result of a renewed investigation by Santa Ana police Cold Case Unit homicide investigators, Cpl. Jose Gonzalez said.

Rosales was charged with murder, along with a gun-use enhancement, for the shooting of Gonzalo Mendoza, 24, of Santa Ana, on May 5, 1991.

Rosales was linked to the crime at the time, but he left the country and his location in Mexico was never determined, Gonzalez said.

"Initially, we did have a named suspect," Gonzalez said. "There was no lack of leads."

Detectives interviewed witnesses and were also able to link Rosales to the shooting through ammunition found at the scene of the slaying, in the area of Cypress Avenue and Camile Street, Gonzalez said.

Other evidence was recovered in the suspect's car, he said.

But with the suspect allegedly out of the country, the case went dormant until detectives in the Cold Case Unit decided to reopen it, and re- interviewed witnesses.

Detectives did not reveal how they learned that Rosales had returned to the country, but he was arrested during a traffic stop, Gonzalez said.