Tip Leads to Man’s Arrest in Fatal Shooting of Friend

One day after police publicized the identity of a 51-year-old man they say shot to death a longtime acquaintance over the weekend, investigators received an anonymous tip that led to the suspect’s arrest Monday night.

Los Angeles police arrested David William Forgus at a friend’s apartment in the 8500 block of Tobias Avenue at 11:15 p.m. Monday. That friend did not know Forgus was a fugitive and is not implicated in his flight, police said.

Mike Coffey, a homicide detective with LAPD’s North Hollywood Station, said police received a call from someone who recognized Forgus’ picture on TV.

Forgus, who may be facing his second strike charge, did not resist arrest, police said.

Police said the heavily tattooed, goateed suspect killed his friend Edwin Nava, 40, on Friday night while Nava sat in his car in front of a residence in the 11100 block of Cantlay Avenue.

Prior to the shooting, Forgus was in the car arguing with Nava, police said. Then he got out, went to a tent where he lived in the backyard of the residence and returned with a revolver.

Forgus shot Nava and fled on a bicycle, police said.

Detectives suspected Forgus was still in the area and held a Monday afternoon news conference to publicize the crime and his physical description.

Forgus, who is indigent and has no family in the area, is being held at Van Nuys Jail in lieu of $1 million bail. He is scheduled for arraignment on murder charges today.