MONTEREY PARK — A suspect was behind bars Saturday on suspicion of killing his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend with a shotgun.
Rafael Berumen, 55, was booked on suspicion of murder a short time after the Friday’s 1:30 p.m. shooting in the parking lot of El Primo Foods in the 600 block of Monterey Pass Road, Detective David Gunner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said. He was initially believed to be a Pomona resident.
Monterey Park police officials and sheriff’s deputies found Berumen at a Los Angeles residence about 4 p.m. Friday, where he was arrested after a brief armed standoff, officials said.
“He stood in the middle of the street for approximately 15 minutes with a handgun,” Gunner said. “He never pointed it at officers or deputies. He just stood there asking to be shot.”
He ultimately surrendered to authorities, Gunner said.
Berumen was booked on suspicion of murdering a 39-year-old El Monte man, whose name was not released by coroner’s officials Saturday pending notification of his family members.
Berumen allegedly confronted the El Monte man in the parking lot of his place of employment, El Primo Foods, Gunner said.
After a exchanging words, Gunner said, Berumen retrieved a shot gun from his car and opened fire on the victim, who was still sitting in his car.
The wounded man was rushed to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 2:09 p.m., Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s Lt. Joe Bale said.
Gunner said the shooting apparently stemmed from a romantic rivalry between Berumen and the victim.
“It appears to be a personal thing about a relationship,” he said. “The victim was the new boyfriend of the suspect’s ex-girlfriend.”
Several people witnessed the shooting, he added.
El Primo Foods Chief Operating Officer Jack Lucas said the shooting victim had been working at the company for about two months and was well-liked by co-workers.
According to sheriff’s booking records, Berumen was being held in lieu of $1 million bail and was due for arraignment Monday in Alhambra Superior Court.
