1 ARRESTED, 1 SOUGHT IN MAN'S DEATH.

Byline: Ryan Oliver Staff Writer

STUDIO CITY - A transient was arrested Friday in connection with the bludgeoning death of a man he met at a gay bar, police said.

Albert Valella, 24 and a second man - who is still sought by police - are suspected of killing James Hill, 51, in his Studio City apartment in the 10900 block of Bluffside Drive.

``He was brutally bludgeoned; a very brutal killing,'' Coffey said. ``There was a lot of hatred.''

The slaying does not appear to be a hate crime targeting Hill's sexual orientation, Coffey said. Both suspects are also believed to be gay, and that at some point, an argument broke out between the trio, Coffey said.

Hill, the property manager at his apartment building, was found dead in his bedroom at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday with multiple blunt trauma injuries to his head. Hill's wallet may have been taken after the attack, but robbery does not appear to be a primary motive, he said.

Valella was picked up by police on the streets in the Hollywood area about 3:30 a.m. He was booked on suspicion of murder and was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Valella has refused to cooperate with detectives, Coffey said.

Police say they only know the second suspect by the name ''Don.'' He is described as around 22 years old, white and about 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds.

Police are asking anyone with knowledge of the case to contact North Hollywood detectives at [phone].

Ryan Oliver, [phone]

ryan.oliver(at)dailynews.com