A rookie Los Angeles Police Department officer was wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of a man in Pomona, California, officials said Saturday.
Henry Solis, a 27-year-old probationary officer, was sought as a "person of interest," Pomona Police Department officials said.
"Solis' whereabouts is unknown, and we have reason to believe that he knows the police are looking to talk with him," Pomona police said in a news release.
LAPD officials said Solis did not show up to work Saturday and they have not been able to locate him. Foul play was not believed to be a factor in the officer's disappearance.
LAPD Commander Andrew Smith said Solis was a "probationer police officer" who entered the police academy in June 2014. Solis was assigned to Devonshire Division in November 2014 and has been working there with a training officer. His probationary period was set to end in November 2015.
Police were searching for Solis in connection with the killing of a 23-year-old man who was shot after getting into a fight with another man in Pomona early Friday morning.
Solis was off-duty at the time, police said.
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Officers responding to multiple 911 calls of shots fired in the area of Third and Main streets about 3:30 a.m. found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper body, Pomona Police Department officials said.
The victim, identified by police as Ontario resident Salome Rodriguez, Jr., was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where he later died.
Homicide detectives said Rodriguez and the gunman had gotten into a "physical altercation" prior to the shooting. They don't believe the men knew each other and say the incident was not gang related.
Police said a compact car was seen leaving the area after the shooting, but it was unknown if it was connected to the incident.
Solis drives a silver or gray 2013 Volkswagen Jetta with California license plate 7FAS527. He is described as 5-foot-9-inches tall, weighing 185 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
Smith said "without getting into the nuts and bolts" of the investigation, the LAPD was helping Pomona police in locating Solis, but that the case was ultimately a "Pomona PD caper."
Rodriguez's friends said they were in disbelief to hear that an LAPD officer was wanted in connection with his murder.
The victim was a "hard worker, great friend, upbeat fun guy," said George Martinez. “No reason to get in a fight with anybody. Just a great guy all around."
People gathered at the intersection in prayer Saturday night.
"Pomona PD has been really good about holding it down here in Pomona, just to hear that somebody from the Los Angeles Police Department is involved is unbelievable,” said bartender Jose Baez.
Anyone with information on the incident was asked to call Pomona police at 909-620-2085.
NBC4's Pablo Kay and Kate Larsen contributed to this report.
