Tesla Factory Murder Suspect Arrested, Victim ID'ed

FREMONT, CA — An employee at a Fremont Tesla plant has been arrested in connection to the shooting death of a coworker and charged with murder and possession of an assault rifle, Fremont police said.

Detectives arrested Anthony Solima, 29, of Milpitas on a homicide warrant Monday night, according to the Fremont Police Department. Solima is being held without bail in the Santa Rita jail in Dublin on suspicion of murder, and was charged Thursday with murder and possession of an assault rifle, according to the East Bay Times.

On Monday afternoon, firefighters received an emergency call, and found an unresponsive man at the Fremont Tesla factory. Police officers determined the victim, identified by the East Bay Times as 42-year-old Lee Braiser, had received at least one gunshot wound, and was pronounced dead shortly after. Investigating officers found several spent .223-caliber rifle casings, police said. Detectives said Braiser had just finished his shift when he was shot in the factory parking lot.

Investigators say they were soon able to track down a potential suspect, whom witnesses said they saw arguing with Braiser earlier in the day. Solima suddenly quit his job after the argument, according to police. Other witnesses say they saw him angrily loading a toolbox into his car before leaving that morning, the East Bay Times reports.

Detectives tracked down Solima, and say that he immediately surrendered. Police say that they found a loaded, non-serialized .223 caliber, short-barrel rifle and expanded casing in his car. Police confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that this was a “ghost gun,” a firearm typically made from 3D-printed polymer parts that can be assembled at home using kits. Because they are not licensed by manufacturers, they lack serial numbers, and are impossible to track.

Fremont police are continuing their investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Fremont police at 510-790-6900, email Det. Michael Gebhardt at mgebhardt@fremont.gov, or submit an anonymous tip by texting Tip FremontPD and a short message to 888777.

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Tesla Worker Gunned Down As He Left Factory: Police