Third person arrested in ‘targeted’ killing of Downey real estate agent

A third person was arrested Tuesday in connection with a home-invasion robbery in Downey that left a 59-year-old man dead.

The suspect, a 17-year-old male from Anaheim, was arrested on suspicion of murder for the Sunday morning slaying and he was booked into a juvenile detention center, according to the Downey Police Department. His name was not released.

About 11:15 a.m. Sunday, officers found Jim Rudometkin dead in his home in the 10300 block of Lesterford Avenue. Ruling his death a homicide, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said Rudometkin died of blunt trauma and heart disease.

Police said they believe Rudometkin was “specifically targeted by the suspects,” according to a statement. “We do not believe this was a random crime.”

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A witness saw two people talk with Rudometkin near the side door of his home, then force him inside. A third person later went inside the home, police said.

When officers responded, police dispatch received a report that the three suspects had hopped over the fence behind Rudometkin’s home in a bid to escape.

“We got reports of suspects fleeing through the neighborhood on foot,” said Downey Police Sgt. Terry Goeckner.

Two of the suspects were taken into custody: Henry Willie Sao, 28, of Long Beach and Paul Darvis Misikei, 19, of Anaheim. Policed had launched a search for the third suspect, saying he fled in a white four-door sedan and had “bushy” black hair with a red-and-orange button-down shirt.

It’s unclear why any of the suspects may have targeted the man, who was a longtime real estate agent in the Los Angeles area. Police declined to specify whether any of the suspects had previous interactions with Rudometkin.

Jim Emery, a real estate broker for Coldwell Banker Alliance Realty, told the Whittier Daily News that Rudometkin was unmarried and that the home involved in the robbery was previously owned by his parents, who had died during the last decade.

Rudometkin was “very kind, honest, quiet, gentle man. I can’t imagine why anyone would have done what they’ve done,” Emery told the paper.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Downey Police Department at (562) 904-2308.

For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno.

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