Suspect in Anaheim Man’s Shotgun Slaying Arrested : Crime: Passenger was slain at stoplight after argument between two drivers. Police say man they jailed lived in his car.

Police have arrested a 30-year-old man who allegedly drew a shotgun from his car and killed a young Anaheim man at a stoplight following an argument, authorities said Monday.

Acting on an anonymous tip about last’s Friday’s fatal shooting of 19-year-old Steve Escalera, investigators arrested Ronald Lamar Chase in Fountain Valley on Sunday night.

Police on Monday identified Chase as a transient who was living in his white and blue 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix in the area of Violet Circle and San Jacinto Street.

He is being held at the Huntington Beach City Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail, Lt. Ed McErlain said. His arraignment is set for Wednesday morning at West Orange Municipal Court in Westminster.

Police said that a few hours before the arrest, an anonymous caller’s description of the suspect and his car, along with other evidence which they declined to describe, linked Chase to the fatal shooting. They had not recovered the pistol-grip shotgun used in the shooting.

Police said they did not know how long Chase had been living in his car in Fountain Valley or what he had been doing previously.

Huntington Beach police impounded the car, which matched descriptions provided by several witnesses to the killing.

Escalera was a passenger in a car driven by 18-year-old Ralph Clark of Huntington Beach. Police said Clark and Chase, who apparently had been arguing, were stopped next to each other in traffic on Beach Boulevard about 11 a.m. when Chase allegedly reached in the back seat, pulled out a pistol-handled shotgun and fired into Clark’s car.

Clark ducked, but Escalera was struck in the head. He was pronounced dead at Humana Hospital-Huntington Beach less than 30 minutes later.

Police said they believe the argument began on Beach Boulevard at the Garden Grove Freeway and continued as both cars entered Huntington Beach, about 5 miles away.

An official with the state Department of Motor Vehicles said Monday that Chase’s driving record for the last 2 1/2 years includes seven speeding violations, driving without proof of insurance and failing to wear a seat belt.

Escalera’s relatives said they were heartened by the arrest.

“It wouldn’t bring my brother back, but I’m glad they arrested someone,” said Debra Waller of Santa Maria. “At least he won’t be there to hurt someone else.”

Waller said her brother, who had spent the last two years working as a plumber’s apprentice in Garden Grove, recently bought his own truck to begin his own plumbing business.

“He saved up all his money,” Waller said. “He was looking forward to his business so much. He had planned to work hard and be somebody, but now his future, his life, is gone. It’s just not fair.”

A memorial service for Escalera is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Peek Family Colonial Funeral Home in Westminster.