Homicide Detectives Get the Gift of a Quick Arrest

A Christmas Day homicide that took the life of 39-year-old Terry Dewayne Frager yielded an unusually quick conclusion for Los Angeles police detectives Friday.

Just hours after Frager was shot to death during an argument with an acquaintance at a liquor store at Vernon and Western avenues, detectives returned to the scene, anticipating the typical difficulties of uncooperative witnesses and an elusive suspect.

Instead, said Det. Peter Razanskas of the LAPD’s Southwest Division, passersby pointed out a man strolling by at just that moment across the street -- the very suspect they sought.

Robert R. Newman, 33, was arrested on suspicion of murder.