After spending 15 years on the run, a man wanted in connection with a deadly 2010 shooting in Miami has finally been arrested in Nairobi, Kenya — marking the dramatic end to a global manhunt that spanned three continents.
The suspect, Nicolas Soares, 34, was apprehended in a quiet Nairobi neighborhood following a coordinated international operation involving Kenyan law enforcement, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Miami police.
Authorities confirmed that Soares was living under a false identity and had been in Kenya for several years before his capture earlier this month.
Following his arrest, Soares was extradited to the United States and appeared before a South Florida court on Thursday morning. He faces charges of second-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with the 2010 death of 23-year-old Herbert Caniza.
Court documents and police reports reveal that the crime dates back to September 2010, when Soares — then 19 — allegedly went to Caniza’s home in Miami to rob him of cash and marijuana.
Investigators say that when Caniza opened his door, Soares shot him in the chest at point-blank range before fleeing. Detectives later learned that Soares had been struggling financially and had planned the robbery to obtain money and drugs he intended to resell.
A key witness told police that Soares had discussed the robbery plan in advance and even described how he acquired the firearm used in the fatal shooting.
Soon after the murder, Soares reportedly contacted his mother, saying his life was in danger and he needed to “leave urgently.” According to police records, she helped him flee the country — arranging his travel to Brazil, where he initially sought refuge with relatives.
From there, investigators believe Soares moved between several countries in South America before eventually making his way to East Africa.
For years, the case went cold as Soares evaded capture, using aliases and avoiding digital trails. It wasn’t until early 2025, when the Miami-Dade Police Department reopened the cold case with federal assistance, that new leads emerged linking Soares to Nairobi.
In March 2025, an arrest warrant was reissued, and after months of surveillance and cooperation between Interpol, Kenyan police, and U.S. federal agents, Soares was located and detained in Nairobi.
Officials have declined to reveal how long he had been living in Kenya or what he was doing during his time in hiding.
Upon his extradition, Soares was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, where he remains in custody without bond.
Authorities in both nations hailed the operation as an example of successful cross-border collaboration in pursuing fugitives accused of violent crimes.
“This case underscores the fact that no matter how far someone runs or how long they hide, justice will eventually catch up,” said a U.S. law enforcement spokesperson following Soares’s court appearance.
Soares is expected to face trial in Miami later this year. Prosecutors have not yet confirmed whether they will seek a plea deal or pursue the full extent of the murder and armed robbery charges, which could carry a life sentence if convicted.
Meanwhile, the victim’s family has expressed relief that the long wait for justice may finally be over.
“Fifteen years is a long time, but knowing he’s finally back to face what he did brings us peace,” said a relative of Caniza in a statement.
