Montebello police Wednesday announced the arrest of a murder suspect accused of gunning down a man after arranging to meet him to buy a gold chain.
The shooting occurred about 6:30 p.m. Monday in the 1600 block of Neil Armstrong Street, Montebello police Lt. Andy Vuncanon said.
Brian Lee Gomez, 28, of Long Beach died at the scene.
At a late-morning news conference Wednesday, police Chief Kevin McClure said Sean Matthew Garcia, 25, had been arrested and booked on suspicion of murder.
Garcia allegedly ambushed Gomez after arranging to meet him via a website called OfferUpNow.com to buy a $2,000 gold chain.
He allegedly appeared at the pre-arranged meeting location with an assault rifle, chased down Gomez and shot him, leaving him to die on a sidewalk.
“During the investigation, we were able to find out that there were other victims of this particular person that were robbed basically in the same area,” McClure said.
He said the OfferUp website helped investigators locate an alleged victim who had not previously called police.
Police released video of the suspect brandishing an assault rifle and said a warrant search of Garcia’s home turned up assault rifle parts believed to be from the weapon used to kill Gomez.
While investigating the Gomez slaying, detectives learned of another previously unreported crime in which the victim “was robbed of an assault rifle similar to the weapon used on Gomez’s homicide,” according to a police statement. “Evidence linked Garcia to this robbery, as well.”
Investigators also found methamphetamine and at Garcia’s residence, authorities said.
Police believe there are other victims and urged anyone with information to call the Montebello police Investigations Unit at (323) 887-1313, ext. 262.
—City News Service