Sports Store Bat Used in Milpitas Homicide: Cops

Suspect used baseball bat to kill acquaintance inside sports store, according to police

Milpitas police have identified the suspect arrested in a homicide at the Great Mall Friday morning as 26-year-old transient Nathaniel Manlangit.

Cmdr. Armando Corpuz said police responded to the mall shortly before 11 a.m. after there was reports of some type of fight where someone had an undescribed weapon.

Police said they confronted Manlangit inside the store and then arrested him without incident. 

They said they also found a body inside. Police did not release victim's identity.  An investigation determined that Manlangit and the victim, a man, were acquaintances. The two got into an altercation in the store and Manlangit picked up a baseball bat from a store shelf, then struck him several times, police said. 

They do not believe the killing was gang related.

A woman emailed NBC Bay Area to say that police were "flying left and right" after a man attacked another man with a baseball bat.  

The Sports Authority issued a statement saying the company was cooperating with the investigation, but would not comment further.

Sports Authority is closed for business, with no projected time for its reopening. The rest of the Great Mall remains open for business.

This is the first homicide of the year in Milpitas.

Anyone with information regarding this incident or any other criminal activity occurring in the city of Milpitas is encouraged to call the Milpitas Police Department at (408) 586-2400. Information can also be given anonymously by calling (408) 586-2500, or via the Milpitas Police Department website at this link.

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