Police said they believe the suspect and an accomplice went to the victim's house to rob him of marijuana and cash. John De La Rosa said. Members of the Inland Regional Apprehension Task Force, a multi-agency task force that focuses on capturing violent suspects, had had him under surveillance since police learned of his possible involvement in the crime. Powers is cooperating with detectives, and police are confident they will find the second suspect, De La Rosa said. Deutsch reportedly had sold marijuana to Powers, De La Rosa said.
Powers has several convictions for drug possession, court records indicate.
Police said they are unsure about what preceded the shooting. Two roommates who were also in the home when the robbers entered the house were unharmed. It is also unclear how the robbers, whose faces were covered, had gotten into the house, De La Rosa said. Deutsch was scheduled to graduate from California Baptist University on Saturday. He was preparing to become a teacher and was to have received a bachelor's degree in liberal studies, said Brenda Flowers, Cal Baptist spokeswoman.