Arrest in Mail Hauler’s Death

A 35-year-old Compton man has been arrested in connection with the murder of mail delivery truck driver Edward Watkins, who was fatally shot Monday as he was stopped on the shoulder of Interstate 5 near Gorman, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said today.

Rudy Johns was taken into custody late Tuesday in an unincorporated area of San Gabriel, near the spot where a car was found that matched the description witnesses gave of the attacker’s vehicle. Sheriff’s Deputy Merlyn Poppleton said Johns made an “admissions statement” as he was being booked on suspicion of murder at the sheriff’s Temple City station. Deputies gave no motive for the slaying. (Story, Part II, Page 2.)