Whittier Murder Suspect, 27, Turns Himself In
WHITTIER (CBSLA.com) — Authorities said the suspect in the murder of a 22-year-old man who was killed Saturday in front of the Whittier home he shared with his family, has surrendered to police.
The suspect was identified as 27-year-old Augustin Garcia of Whittier.
The shooting occurred at 9 p.m. Saturday in the 5800 block of Ben Alder Avenue, said Whittier police Officer Brad White.
"When officers arrived, they located a 22-year-old male lying in the front yard of his residence with what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to his chest," he said.
The victim was transported to County USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, said coroner's Investigator Joseph Cronin.
Gloria Alvarado, 22, who said she was the victim's girlfriend, told The San Gabriel Valley Tribune that his name was Richard Mationg, who lived at the Ben Alder address with his family for about 12 years.
Friends who gathered at a memorial at the shooting scene said they did not know the suspect, but police believe he and the victim knew each other, the newspaper reported.
Mationg was working his way up to manager at the CVS pharmacy where he worked and had just purchased a new 2012 Dodge Avenger, Alvarado said.
"He was the funniest person ever," she told the newspaper. "He gave good advice. He was a really good guy."
Garcia was arrested at 1:50 p.m. at Whittier police headquarters. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail, according to sheriff's online booking records.