Teenage Suspect in Custody in Fresno Homicide | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Monday, August 17, 2009

Fresno, CA Nineteen year old /*Dareshae Dews*/ was taken into custody shortly after neighbors called police Thursday, to report a possible residential robbery. Action News has learned, the suspect has a violent past.

Neighbors who saw the suspect leaving the home are definitely relieved. They worried they might be in danger because they say the suspect saw them when he left. We don't know what the suspect carried away from the home but police have arrested the man they believe is responsible.

Black markings cover the victims door and gate where police dusted for fingerprints. Detectives returned to the crime scene Friday morning leaving with only a folded brown paper bag. The victim, identified as 44 year old /*Arthur Lopez*/ died just after noon Thursday after being stabbed several times.

Police say the suspect, Dareshae Dews was captured after witnesses provided a good description of the young man they saw walking out of the home. He left the front door wide open and that left neighbors concerned.

Police spokesman Jeff Cardinale said, "Neighbors when they called 9-1-1 said that they'd seen an African American adult leaving the scene of the crime with a large black bag in his hand. There were a lot of officers in the nearby area and they were able to quickly find the suspect and arrest him."

Dews is only 19, and has a violent criminal history. He was arrested earlier this year for carjacking and later for possessing a controlled substance. He was already convicted of possessing marijuana.

The suspect lived in this home with his mother, brother and sister. It's on the corner of Ferger and Franklin and is literally a fourth of a mile, a short walk away from the victims.

Lopez had spent the past year remodeling his home. Those who have been inside say he has some very expensive furnishings. Police will not say whether the suspect and victim were acquainted or why the victim would be a target.

"At this point publicly we really don't want to get into the motive in this case. We have done extensive interviews with several people involved," said Cardinale.

Family members leaving the victims home did not want to talk Friday. Police say the suspect was injured in the attack but officers will not describe how he was hurt.

I did speak to the suspect's brother. He said he did not know Dews was in custody for murder. Their other brother, was arrested earlier this year for another murder.