Detective have arrested a suspect in connection with the slaying of a 20-year-old La Puente man found who was found shot to death inside a vacant home in Duarte in April following what investigators described as a drug deal gone wrong.
Ricardo Anthony Resendez faces a murder charge for the April 1 shooting of Christian Sanchez in the 2600 block of Calle Martos, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.
He was arrested by deputies from the sheriff’s Temple City Station just before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Los Angeles County booking records show.
After identifying Resendez as a suspect in the slaying, he was arrested at his home in an unincorporated county area near Duarte without a struggle, Lt. Joe Mendoza of the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
“The motive was a drug deal gone bad,” Mendoza said.
The suspect and victim met at the home prior to the shooting, the lieutenant said. “That’s were the suspect shot the victim.”
No further details regarding the circumstances of the slaying have been released.
In addition to the murder charge, prosecutors also allege the special circumstance of murder during the commission of a robbery, as well as the special allegation that he personally discharged a firearm resulting in great bodily injury and death, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani.
The special circumstance makes Resendez potentially eligible for the death penalty. Prosecutors will decide later whether to seek capital punishment in the case.
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s officials filed the murder charge on Wednesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court and booking records show.
He entered no plea during a court appearance in the Alhambra branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court. An arraignment hearing was postponed until Sept. 20.
Resendez was being held without bail.