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Arrest made in Chandler LA Fitness murder

Posted at 9:57 AM, Mar 01, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-02 11:14:40-05

Chandler Police says an arrest has been made in an unsolved homicide outside of an LA Fitness in August 2016.

Shivaswamy Hosakote was found dead in his vehicle near the Dobson and Warner roads on August 18. He had multiple stab wounds. 

On Feb. 28, 24-year-old Freddis Williams III was arrested and booked into jail on one count of second-degree murder.

"Detective believe this was an isolated incident and a crime of opportunity," said Sgt. Daniel Mejia, a spokesperson for the Chandler Police Department.

Chief Sean Duggan said he's learned a lot about the victim since his death. His family said Hosakote was a retired engineer and regularly went for walks. He started going to the gym when it got too hot outside.

"He was a humble person; a gentle person. He touched the lives of many people," Duggan said.

According to police documents, forensic examinations of Hosakote's car came back with fingerprints, leading police to question Williams in September. Search warrants were served on his Chandler home, vehicle and cell phone.

The suspect told officials that his car broke down in the LA fitness parking lot and he was trying to call for help. Police later discovered after checking his cell phone records that he was lying. 

Williams soon after changed his address to his mother's home in Phoenix. 

Further forensic tests done by the Arizona Department of Public Safety became available on Feb. 24, 2017 and Williams was taken into custody days later.

Police are expected to give more information at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. 

RELATED: Unsolved Chandler homicides