ARREST MADE IN DOUBLE SLAYING.Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer NORTHRIDGE - Ending a four-month manhunt man·hunt n. An organized, extensive search for a person, usually a fugitive criminal. manhunt Noun an organized search, usually by police, for a wanted man or fugitive Noun 1. , police on Friday announced the arrest of a 35-year-old Arleta man in connection with the April murder of two cousins after a barroom argument. Police claim Edward Blakeslee shot and killed Philip Gearhart, 24, and John Shellabarger, 26, both from Panorama City, as they parked in front of their home April 6 after a night out at the California Broiler broiler a young (about 8 weeks old) male or female chicken weighing 3 to 3.5 lb. . The arrest culminates an investigation that started with few leads but was aided by a $25,000 city reward. ``There is great relief that the murderer is no longer on the streets. But it doesn't bring my son back,'' said Diana Gearhart, Philip's mother. ``But it makes everyone else's sons a little safer.'' Philip had been studying business at Los Angeles Pierce College
Linda Shellabarger said her son was engaged to be married and was a star baseball catcher at Valley College. ``I can't tell you how our souls have been shattered shat·ter v. shat·tered, shat·ter·ing, shat·ters v.tr. 1. To cause to break or burst suddenly into pieces, as with a violent blow. 2. a. ,'' Linda Shellabarger said. ``It was a senseless sense·less adj. 1. Lacking sense or meaning; meaningless. 2. Deficient in sense; foolish or stupid. 3. Insensate; unconscious. crime. We've lost two remarkable young men.'' They credited the detectives, who attributed the break in the case to persistence and hard work. ``It was solid, solid detective work on the part of my guys,'' said LAPD 1. LAPD - Link Access Procedure on the D channel. 2. LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department. Detective Mike Oppelt, who's four-detective Devonshire Division team worked the case. Detectives were able to identify Blakeslee through a process of elimination The process of elimination is a basic logical tool to solve real world problems. By subsequently removing options that may be deemed impossible, illogical, or can be easily ruled out due to some sort of explicit understanding relative to the entire set of options, the pool of by interviewing witnesses. Oppelt would not discuss any physical evidence they might have. Police armed with a warrant arrested Blakeslee early Wednesday without incident at his Arleta home, police said. He was being held without bail at the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Jail's Inmate Reception Center. Police said they believe the barroom scuffle at the California Broiler began over a beer. Family members learned of the incident from friends who were there that night. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the family, a stranger was scuffling with another man at the bar when one man tried to grab Shellabarger's beer, possibly to use as a weapon against the other man. Shellabarger refused to give up the beer, and the stranger punched him. Gearhart jumped to his cousin's defense and a fight broke out. ``A fracas broke out and our boys got pulled into it,'' Diana Gearhart said. After the fight, police claim, Blakeslee and at least one other unidentified person tailed the men to their home in the 8800 block of Wakefield Avenue in Panorama City about 2 a.m. It was there, police said, Blakeslee allegedly pulled a handgun out and shot them. A neighbor out getting his paper spotted the bodies and notified the police about four hours later. The cousins, who lived three doors apart, were shot as they were about to get out of the car. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) GEARHART (2) SHELLABARGER |
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