Police have made an arrest in a homicide case involving a man who was found shot to death inside the bedroom of a La Mesa home last month, officials announced Thursday.
The La Mesa Police Department (LMPD) said Samuel Godinez, 36, of Lemon Grove, was arrested on May 27 in connection with the shooting death of Christopher Gillette, 33.
After weeks of investigating, Godinez was taken into custody by a Special Response Team in the 1700 block of Linda Vista Drive in San Marcos, police said. He was booked into San Diego Central Jail. His bail has been set at $2 million and he’s scheduled to appear in court on June 30.
On May 16, just before 5:30 a.m., La Mesa police received a 911 call reporting a man had been shot inside a home in the 8200 block of El Paso Street.
When officers arrived, they found Gillette suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The LMPD said detectives worked over the next few weeks following up on leads from the homicide. Lt. Angela Desarro said investigators looked through surveillance footage and spoke with neighbors and witnesses. Those leads ultimately led police to Godinez.
Though a motive for the murder was not revealed by police, Lt. Desarro did say the men were acquaintances. In the early morning hours of the day of the shooting, the men got into some sort of verbal dispute and Godinez allegedly fired a gun at Gillette.
Lt. Desarro said she did not know the root of the deadly argument.
According to investigators, Gillette was originally from Lakeside, but was staying periodically at the home in La Mesa.
Lt. Desarro said there were several people inside the home at the time of the shooting. The house is located directly across the street from Murray Manor Elementary School.
On the day of the shooting, neighboring residents told NBC 7 an unknown man had been renting the home for about a year. One neighbor said she began noticing odd activity at the house a few weeks prior to the shooting, but up to then, there had been no problems at the residence.
Lt. Desarro told NBC 7 Godinez has a criminal history, though she did not go into specific details. She said Godinez acted alone in the shooting and said police have a strong case against him.
Gillette's brother, Peter Gillette, told NBC 7 the victim leaves behind a daughter. He said his brother was a good man.
