Suspect arrested in connection with murder of young couple [Updated]

A 24-year-old suspect in the brutal killings of a young New Jersey couple has been arrested in Paramount, authorities said.

Kuasheim Powell, who was arrested March 16, is being held at a Los Angeles County Jail facility in connection with the February slayings, which authorities said were in retaliation for violence between the Crips and Bloods street gangs.

The 23-year-old male victim was beaten, stabbed and shot over a period of several hours, according to authorities. His 18-year-old girlfriend was beaten and strangled.

Powell is one of several adult and juvenile suspects in the case.

[Updated at 9:10 p.m. The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Marshals Service made the arrest acting on information provided by police in Camden, N.J.]

–Andrew Blankstein