'Very Dangerous' East Palo Alto Man Arrested in Connection to June Murder: Police

EAST PALO ALTO, CA — A 23-year-old man accused of fatally shooting another man in East Palo Alto in June was on parole for robbery when officers arrested him this morning in San Jose, according to East Palo Alto police.

East Palo Alto police, with assistance from San Jose police, arrested Lionel McCoy around 5 a.m., after serving a search warrant at 477 N. Second St. in San Jose, East Palo Alto police said. McCoy was arrested on suspicion of homicide and booked into jail without bail, according to police.

During the raid at the home, two others were also detained. One of the detainees was arrested on suspicion of violating parole, while another was interviewed and released, police said.

McCoy, an East Palo Alto resident, is a suspect in a June 10 fatal shooting at 2455 Illinois St. Officers responding to reports of gunfire that day found a man suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds.

The victim, later identified as 30-year-old Christopher Puckett, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Police believe the fatal shooting was the result of an ongoing dispute between Puckett and McCoy.

"This arrest will provide closure for the family of the victim and the community at large. Thanks to a coordinated effort, a very dangerous individual is off the streets of our community," police Chief Albert Pardini said in a statement.

— By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock.