Police now have a suspect in custody in relation to a murder that happened outside a Vons grocery store on October 10th. Desert Hot Springs police held a press conference Thursday to make the announcement.
18-year-old Anthony Magdaleno of Hawaiian Gardens has been arrested in connection to the murder of 45-year-old Chi-Lu "Tony" Chen.
Hawaiian Gardens is a city in Los Angeles County, about 110 miles west of Palm Springs. Police did not specifiy Magdeleno's connection to the Coachella Valley, but said the suspect had possibly been staying in Desert Hot Springs for the past several weeks.
On October 10th, 45-year-old Chi-Lu "Tony" Chen was killed outside a Vons grocery store on Palm Drive in Desert Hot Springs.
"Magdaleno shot Chen in the head from close range resulting in Chen's death," Desert Hot Springs police said in a press release. "Magdaleno fled the scene, running across Palm Dr. to the K-Mart parking lot. From there he fled to a residential area and was not found by searching officers."
Police released surveillance video of the suspect and had asked for the public's help in identifying the individual pictured. That's when police say they got there break in this case after a witness came forward "because it was the right thing to do."
"Detectives followed up on the leads provided and were able to identify Magdaleno as the person doing the shooting," police said.
Magdaleno is being held at the Indio jail on $1.5 million bail. He is charged with murder.
Magdaleno, who is known as "Little Crow'' and has several tattoos on his face, was arrested Wednesday in Los Angeles County.
