Arrest made in New Haven's first homicide of the year

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- Police have made an arrest in connection to the Jan. 22 slaying of an Orchard Market clerk.

On Jan. 22, police responded to a shooting inside the Orchard Market at 738 Orchard Steet. Upon arrival officers found Abdul Ghani El-Rawas of Bridgeport with gun wounds to the back and arm. He was taken by ambulance to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators used surveillance images and information from witness interviews to determine Milton Daniels Jr., 20, of Harden Place in New Haven was the prime suspect.

Early friday morning Detectives executed an arrest warrant for Daniels for an unrelated 2012 larceny as S.W.A.T. officers executed a search warrant at Daniels' home for evidence relating to the homicide.

Evidence linking Daniels to the crime was found and he was subsequently arrested and charged with Felony Murder and Murder.

Bond was set at $2,000,000 bond.

In a press release, Chief Dean M. Esserman said, "I want to acknowledge the remarkable Detectives who pursued this case relentlessly to bring justice to a grieving family."

Daniels is expected to be arraigned in court on Tuesday.