Police are asking for the public's help in locating a suspect they believe murdered an elderly man in Antioch earlier this month.
Investigators believe 21-year-old Ruslan Bazelyan is responsible for the death of 71-year-old Ronald Rush, who was found dead in his Antioch home on the evening of June 11, police said.
An investigation revealed that Rush died due to blunt force trauma to the head.
Police said Bazelyan befriended Rush sometime earlier this month and was staying at the victim's home for at least a week before the homicide occurred.
After the killing, the suspect fled with Rush's car and cell phone, police said.
Police believe Bazelyan is in either the Sacramento or San Francisco area and may be working as a car mechanic or repairman.
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Police now have a warrant for his arrest for the alleged murder and vehicle theft.
Bazelyan is a Russian citizen who immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine in 2003 and speaks English with a Russian accent.
He is about 6 feet tall, weighs roughly 160 pounds and has brown hair and green eyes.
Police said Bazelyan lied and told the victim that his name was "Alex," and may be going by that name now.
The car he is believed to have stolen is a metallic gold 2008 BMW 328i hardtop convertible with California license plates of FOXRHR. (pictured above)
Anyone with information regarding the wherabouts of Bazelyan or the missing vehicle is asked to contact the Antioch Police Department investigation's Bureau at 925-779-6933 or text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "ANTIOCH".
