Arrest made in triple fatal arson fire at South El Monte tire shop

SOUTH EL MONTE, Calif. (KABC) -- A 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection to a fire at a tire shop in South El Monte that left three people dead early Saturday morning.

Surveillance video led homicide detectives to Roberto Fuentes of Baldwin Park. A witness told police he saw several men throw a Molotov cocktail into Cheque Tires in the 1200 block of Santa Anita Avenue and run from the scene at about 5:30 a.m.

The bodies of Carlos Christopher Jimenez, Destiny Monique Aguirre, and Rodrigo Gonzalez were later found inside the shop by responding Los Angeles County firefighters. Fuentes was arrested for murder and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

The vehicle used in the crime, a gold 2002 Nissan Altima, is being held for evidence. Earlier reports of a white Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck seen leaving the scene at the time of the fire was determined not to be related.

Anyone with further information on this incident was encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.