Authorities on Wednesday, March 19, asked for the public’s help in finding the man suspected of killing a 61-year-old Arcadia man during a confrontation at the victim’s home last week.
Detectives believe Zehao Lu, a 41-year-old Chinese national who lived in Rosemead, may have fled to China, sheriff’s Lt. Steven De Jong said.
Lu targeted the victim, De Jong said but declined to reveal the motive.
“The tragic homicide on Tuesday, March 11, resulted from a dispute between two individuals who were known to each other,” Arcadia Police Chief Roy Nakamura said in a statement. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the victim’s family during this incredibly difficult time. While this targeted act of violence has deeply affected us all, we want to assure the community that Arcadia remains a safe place to live and work.”
Two days after the fatal shooting, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office charged Lu with murder, burglary with a person present to commit a felony and two counts of assault with a semiautomatic handgun.
He was also charged with the special allegations that he allegedly killed the victim while lying in wait and the murder was committed during a burglary, court records show.
A no-bail arrest warrant with an extradition order was issued for Lu who investigators say should be considered armed and dangerous. Detectives didn’t say how they identified him as the suspect.
The victim still has not been publicly identified by the medical examiner’s office.
The charges stem from what happened at a home in the 50 block of Woodland Lane shortly before 6:30 p.m. on March 11.
Lu had confronted the victim’s 43-year-old wife and 13-year-old son in the driveway, forced them into the house where there was a confrontation with the victim, sheriff’s officials said.
De Jong had earlier said the victim had armed himself and the two men shot at each other.
Lu fled after the shooting. The victim’s son called Arcadia police, saying an intruder entered the home and his father had been shot.
The victim had been shot in the torso and died at a hospital.
The son was treated at the scene for scratches to his head and neck. His 43-year-old mother wasn’t injured.
Nearby resident Michael Miller was home getting ready to go to a meeting the night of March 11. But he said the only thing he heard was the police arriving.
“This is not known as a neighborhood with high crime,” he said.
While neighbors, Miller said he doesn’t know the victim or his family personally.
Detectives asked anyone with information about the shooting and suspect to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go to lacrimestoppers.org