San Diego

Arrest in Killing of East Village Business Owner

Security cameras spotted two suspects: a man in a mask and a woman with purple hair

A man has been arrested in the killing of an East Village business owner, San Diego police announced Thursday. A woman who is wanted in the crime is still on the loose. 

Kevin Eugene Cartwright, 51, was arrested in the City of El Cajon on Oct. 17 and was booked into jail for the murder, police said.

Ghedeer Tony Radda, 49, was found dead inside Bottom Price Flooring on G Street on Wednesday, Oct. 10.

Police said Radda wasn't breathing and had no pulse when they arrived. Firefighters arrived minutes later and performed CPR but could not resuscitate him, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from inside the store and saw a man wearing a mask resembling an older woman with grey hair.

"I think today brought a little bit of closure," Radda's cousin Venus told NBC 7 "Nobody feels good. At the end of the day we know that one piece of the puzzle has been kind of resolved."

Police have not identified a motive in the killing, which Radda's cousin says is another piece to the puzzle.

"We still don't really know exactly what the motive was or why he would do that to Ghedeer. At the end of the day, if it was just for money, money comes and goes it's not worth taking a life," Venus said.

Investigators have not identified the woman in the video. She is described as a light-skinned female wearing a purple wig, a dark jacket and blue jeans. 

Cartwright is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.

Anyone with information can call the homicide team at (619) 531-2293 or San Diego CrimeStoppers at (888) 580-8477.

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