A man wanted in the 2008 killing of a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy in Cypress Park has been returned to the United States to face criminal charges in what authorities described as a relentless years-long pursuit of justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.

Deputy Juan Escalante, a father of three, was shot and killed in August 2008 outside his boyhood home. He was 27.

Seventeen years after the murder, Sheriff Robert Luna spoke at a Wednesday afternoon news conference about the arrest of 38-year-old Roberto Salazar in connection with the ambush shooting. Salazar was among 26 fugitives wanted for various crimes who were recently returned to the United States from Mexico, the DOJ said earlier Wednesday.

“Roberto Salazar has finally been returned to the United States to face justice,” Sheriff Robert Luna said at an afternoon news conference. “Salazar will not answer for his alleged role in this brutal and heinous crime.”

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the search for Salazar, one of six people arrested in the shooting death, was the result of a “relentless pursuit of justice” by several law enforcement agencies, including authorities in Mexico.

It was not immediately clear when Salazar was taken into law enforcement custody.

Salazar was one of more than two dozen fugitives wanted for violent and serious crimes, including leaders of smuggling and designated terror organizations, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. They will face charges related to drug-trafficking, hostage-taking, kidnapping, illegal use of firearms, human smuggling, money laundering and other crimes, the DOJ said.

Escalante was leaving his home early that morning when he was shot in the back of the head near the 3400 block of Thorpe Avenue as he prepared to go to work at the Men’s Central Jail.

Four men believed to be gang members were arrested and charged in connection with the ambush killing. They included the shooter, who pleaded guilty to murder and other charges. he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The fifth of six people sought in the murder was arrested in December 2012 in Mexico.

Escalante was a U.S. Army Reserve veteran had been with the sheriff’s department about 2-1/2 years.