Deputies Find Gun, Link Man to Slaying

A suspected drunken driver stopped early Monday by a California Highway Patrol officer in East Los Angeles was identified as a suspect in a killing and booked on suspicion of murder, authorities said.

Felipe Estrada, 22, was stopped near the 400 block of South McDonnell Avenue, where Dylan Valdez, 42, was slain a short time earlier, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Kathryn Nielsen said.

“He had been stopped for suspected drunk driving and a handgun was discovered in his (car),” Nielsen said. “A subsequent investigation by sheriff’s homicide investigators led to their booking him for murder.”

Nielsen said investigators believe Valdez was shot following an argument with Estrada. She said it was unknown whether the gun found in his car was the murder weapon.