Suspect in Newhall Slaying Is Arrested
A man wanted in connection with a Newhall slaying has been arrested by San Fernando police on suspicion of carrying a loaded gun and possessing marijuana for sale, authorities said.
Raj Christopher Gupta, 29, of Valencia was arrested about 8 p.m. Friday after leading San Fernando police officers on a brief foot chase outside a local shopping center, Sgt. David Harvey said. Officers discovered Gupta was carrying a loaded handgun and then seized a pound of marijuana from his car, Harvey said.
San Fernando police turned Gupta over to Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, who suspect him of fatally shooting Jeffrey Alan Day on Sept. 13, Sheriff’s Deputy Benita Hinojos said. Gupta, who was described by authorities as a known drug dealer, was being held Saturday without bail in Santa Clarita.
Hinojos said it was not known whether the gun taken from Gupta on Friday was the one used in the killing.
Harvey said officers had become suspicious of Gupta when he fled after seeing police on a previous occasion in the same shopping center parking lot.
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