A man, identified as 42-year-old Anthony Rauda, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the shooting death of camper Tristan Beaudette, who was killed inside of his tent at Malibu Creek State Park in June.
Rauda was spotted walking through the brush around 3:20 p.m., armed with a gun, near Mulholland Highway during an intensive search conducted by LA County Sheriff’s Department deputies and detectives.
LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said at a news conference Wednesday evening that Rauda had a previous criminal history, including weapon violations.
Rauda is also being questioned for a string of burglaries throughout homes and businesses in the area where Beaudette was killed. The man in question has been caught on security camera stealing food, but leaving valuables untouched.
NBC4 obtained some of the security video images from a burglary at a construction office that shows the man carrying a large gun on his shoulder.
Law enforcement sources said the gun seen on security video could be a key piece of evidence in the Beaudette case, if it can be linked through ballistic tests to the bullet recovered at the Beaudette scene.
The Sheriff’s Department is also investigating whether Rauda could be responsible for a series of seemingly random shootings reported in the Malibu area over the last year.
Rauda is currently being held on parole violations, awaiting further investigation. McDonnell said Rauda was booked on a felony charge without bail.
NBC4 Reporter Eric Leonard joined the show with some updates on the case.