Arrest Made in 1981 Murder Investigation

More than three decades after Charles McGhee was fatally shot in a vacant lot, an arrest was made Wednesday in the 36-year-old man’s 1981 death, police said.

Abraham Tovar, now 73, of Alhambra, was arrested Wednesday morning on an outstanding felony homicide warrant in connection with the murder that happened shortly before midnight on Jan. 1, 1981, in the 2300 block of South Central Avenue.

Investigators said Tovar and his brother Andrew argued with someone in that vacant lot earlier in the day. When the brothers returned to the lot armed with a handgun and hatchet, they were unable to find the person with whom they fought, police said.

McGhee and Wayne Alexis became the target of the brothers’ revenge, police said.

Abraham Tovar shot both men. McGhee died at the scene.

Alexis survived the shooting and later testified against Andrew Tovar, who served state prison time and has since died, police said.

LAPD Due Diligence Team severed two search warrants and poured through several days of surveillance and interviews before the months-long investigation ended with an arrest, according to a statement released Thursday.

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