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Victim in Van Nuys Apartment Shooting ID'd as Childhood Friend of Man Arrested In Connection With His Death
Authorities have released the identity of the man fatally shot Sunday night in a Van Nuys apartment during a night of drinking involving several men. The victim is 25-year-old Saul Zacarias.
Zacarias was shot in the head and died at the scene. Two men at the gathering were passing a gun back and forth when it went off; the men, 43-year-old Tito Diaz and 25-year-old William Jimenez, claim the shooting was an accident, however ABC7 reports the Los Angeles Police Department are not convinced that is the case.
Diaz and Jimenez, who lived with Zacarias, were arrested at the scene, and remain in custody. They were found in the apartment building's parking garage, hiding under a car, say the LAPD.
After Zacarias was shot and killed, the men attempted to dispose of his body in the dumpster, knowing that Monday was trash day.
A neighbor describes hearing the shots and looking outside his door to see "red stuff all over the walls and coming out the door."
According to Zacarias' sole relative in Southern California, Zacarias grew up with Jimenez in their native Guatemala, reports City News Service.
Yesterday, the LAPD confirmed Diaz was booked on suspicion of murder and is being held on $1 million bail. Jimenez was booked as an accessory to murder, with bail set at $500,000.
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