Man accused of gunning down employee at California self-storage business

A 66-year-old Covina man has been arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting an employee at a self-storage facility during an argument over the weekend.

The suspect claimed items were being stolen from his storage unit and got angry at the victim for not believing him, Covina Police Detective Oswaldo Preciado said.

The man had made the same allegation in December 2023, he said, adding police took a burglary report then and the allegation turned out to be unfounded. Sunday’s shooting victim was a witness in 2023, Preciado said.

On Friday, the suspect allegedly told police that valuables were being stolen from his storage unit at One Stop Storage at 1432 N. Barranca Ave. The man wanted advice on what to do when people are stealing from a storage unit, according to Preciado. No report was taken.

A witness saw what appeared to be an argument between the suspect and the victim on Sunday night, police said. The witness left.

Based on video, the victim was shot around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Preciado said.

Her family members had not heard from the victim and went to the storage facility later that night where they found her. he said.

She had multiple gunshot wounds, police said. The medical examiner’s office identified the victim as Patricia Villa, 44, of Alhambra.

Police served a search warrant at Juan Nava’s home on Monday and arrested him on suspicion of murder.

They also recovered numerous assault rifles and ammunition but are still looking for the weapon used in the shooting, Preciado said.

As of Tuesday, Nava was being held at Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles in lieu of $2 million bail.