UPDATED: Suspect charged with murder of man whose body was found buried in concrete in Santa Fe Springs

WHITTIER — Prosecutors Wednesday filed a murder charge against a Santa Fe Springs construction worker accused of the shotgun slaying of a former co-worker whose body was discovered buried in recently poured concrete at a business, officials said.
Juan Manuel Ramirez, 45, was charged with one count of murder, along with the sentence-enhancing allegation that he personally used a firearm — described as a shotgun — in the crime, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said.
Ramirez was initially booked under the name of Juan Alberto Galviz, age 35, however officials later determined Ramirez to be his true name and corrected his age, she added.
A scheduled arraignment Wednesday afternoon in Whittier Superior Court was postponed until Jan. 23, court officials said.
The name of the alleged victim was not released Wednesday pending confirmation that his family had been notified, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said. Police described him as a Santa Fe Springs man in his late-30s.
“We have evidence that shows they’ve known each other for years,” Whittier police Lt. Bryan Ellis said. “They’ve worked together on and off.”
Both men were involved in the construction industry, Ellis added. Ramirez was working and living at the facility where the body was discovered.
The men were not working together at the time of the killing, he said.
The fatal shooting was believed to have taken place Dec. 23, Robison said.
It was believed to have stemmed from some type of feud between Ramirez and the victim, Ellis said. The lieutenant declined to discuss the motive further, citing the ongoing investigation.
His body was discovered Monday, buried within concrete on the property of Coleman Luxaire in the 9600 block of John Street, according to Whittier police.
The body had been placed into a hole dug into the concrete floor inside the building, then covered over with several inches of concrete, Ellis said.
The body was discovered by detectives acting on a tip, he added.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jennifer McDonald.
According to Los Angeles County booking records, Ramirez was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
If convicted as charged, Ramirez could face life in prison, officials said.

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