By Sarah Light, staff writer

A traffic stop in Albert Lea Friday evening resulted in the arrest of Gerald Irving Holt, one of the men wanted in connection with a murder in Cottonwood County and burglary near Mankato earlier this week.

Two other people were also taken into custody after the traffic stop, but as of press time these individuals had not been identified.

According to a news release, at about 4:50 p.m. Friday, officers from the Albert Lea Police Department &8212; with the assistance of the Freeborn County Sheriff&8217;s Office and Minnesota State Patrol &8212; stopped a vehicle that being sought in connection with the homicide of Alberto Samilpa Jr., 20, whose body was found early Monday morning next to a burning car near U.S. Highway 71 and County Road 3.

A later autopsy confirmed that Samilpa, a suspected sex offender who was scheduled to go on trial next month for two counts of criminal sexual conduct, was shot four to five times in the head and stabbed in the neck.

After some investigation following the homicide, authorities issued arrest warrants for two men, Holt, 23, who is also known as Ivan Lopez and &8220;Latin,&8221; and Lionel Benavidez, 21, also known as &8220;Blaze.&8221; Law enforcement officials stated these men, who were suspected to be armed and dangerous, were likely traveling throughout the region.

A third man, Hans Paul Hottel, 20, is already in custody for the case and has been charged with second-degree murder &8212; aiding and abetting in Samilpa&8217;s death.

The news release stated authorities found the suspected vehicle at an Albert Lea motel. Upon leaving the motel parking lot, the vehicle was stopped at Prospect Avenue and Main Street in Albert Lea.

One individual from the vehicle fled on foot and was apprehended after a brief foot chase.

Three individuals were brought to the Freeborn County Adult Detention Center.

The investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Cottonwood County Sheriff&8217;s Office and other law enforcement agencies continues.