Key Takeaways:
– Paul Alexander Warren, a former employee at the VA Loma Linda Health Care System, emerges as the suspect behind the murder of VA Loma Linda Chief Supply Officer Joshua Watson.
– Warren previously expressed several employment difficulties at VA Loma Linda.
– Authorities assert Warren employed a knife in carrying out the fatal attack on Watson.
– Warren was apprehended in Philadelphia while attempting to update his information to access a military depot.
– Counterparts of both men remain in shock following the revelation.
Deciphering The Early Morning Encounter
On the morning of November 29, Tray Poker, an employee at the VA Loma Linda Health Care System, casually engaged with his former lunch buddy, Paul Alexander Warren. Unaware of the forthcoming revelations, Poker had a seemingly ordinary interaction with the former inventory management specialist. Warren alluded to the homicide of Joshua Watson, VA Loma Linda’s Chief Supply Officer, that took place just four days prior.
The Unexpected Reveal
What came across as a friendly interaction took a sinister turn just two weeks later when Poker discovered he had inadvertently conversed with Watson’s alleged killer. On December 11, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department unveiled Warren, a 58-year-old Navy veteran, as the prime suspect in Watson’s murder. The unsuspecting Poker shared his disbelief, unable to coherently understand why Warren displayed return to the campus that fateful day.
The Suspect’s Apprehension
Authorities took Warren into custody on December 9 in Philadelphia. The arrest followed his attempt to update his personal information for accessing the Naval Aviation Supply Depot in the city. Officials at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility now host the suspect as he awaits extradition to California.
Unearthing The Motive
While the authorities didn’t disclose explicit leads on the killer’s incentives or how they identified him, certain clues emerge. Warren had reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with his job at VA Loma Linda at weekly lunch meets. He lamented about his superiors’ possible decision of firing him due to unauthorized absences, reportedly due to an arm injury.
Deviations in Warren’s Actions
An incident that raised red flags included Warren borrowing $400 from a fellow employee soon after the alleged homicide. Poker speculates this action as a possible means of obtaining travel funds to Philadelphia, considering Warren had family ties in the city. Watson, a 43-year-old ex-Marine officer, was found dead in his Rancho Cucamonga Home on November 25, raising further suspicion.
Workplace Reckoning
In the aftermath of the shocking revelations, employees at Loma Linda remain in a state of disbelief and grief. Many deeply regret spreading speculative rumors about Watson’s murder falling on the shoulders of another employee. The collective sentiment experienced is remorse for casting blame on the wrong individual and the shared losses of the well-respected manager.
Tribute To The Departed
In memory of the slain Chief Supply Officer, Joshua Watson, friends, family, and associates will gather for a celebration of life on December 21 at the Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Though this dark chapter brings sorrow and grief, those who knew Watson stand united to remember his life and legacy.