Man arrested for capturing homicide of Australian private coach Azuma Bennett at authorized weed dispensary in Los Angeles

A man is in custody for the alleged murder of an Australian personal trainer who was gunned down at a legal weed dispensary in California last month.

Azuma Bennett, 30, was declared dead after he was found at the doorway of “3584” with eight gunshot wounds in Windsor Hills, Los Angeles, on August 12.

He was due to fly back to Sydney to be by his fiancé’s side in three weeks’ time after moving over to the United States a couple of years ago.

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The Los Angeles Country Sheriffs Department confirmed an arrest had been made in relation to the shooting death of Mr. Bennett.

“On September 22, 2022 investigators arrested Gabriel Alvarado, a Hispanic males from the Los Angeles area, for the murder of Azuma Bennett,” a statement read.

“Gabriel Alvarado was booked in the Los Angeles County Jail under booking.

“A court date is set for November 21, 2022, at the Airport Courthouse in Department 31.”

A GoFundMe page has raised almost $65,000 for his family in Australia to fly to Los Angeles, arrangements to rehome his dog Keyshia and the repatriation of his body.

“Azuma was one of a kind. An outstanding athlete, fighter, teacher trainer, and friend/mate to so many,” the page read.

“We lost one of the best ones out there. He did not deserve this.

“He was kind to all that he met and always engaged everyone in the gym with his positive energy and engaging personality.”

Family and friends celebrated his life on the rooftop of Fortune Gym, where he had worked, with a 30-minute vigil that included drinking and smoking.

He had trained stars such as Hollywood actor Frank Grillo, Australian singer Eddie Benjamin and UFC fight Jason “Mayhem” Miller, according to one friend.

Mr Bennett – a martial arts specialist and former boxing instructor – grew up in Sydney with his mother, Victoria Milton, and father who died in 2017.

Ms Milton told Nine News her son “live well” and she was “so proud of him”.

“The kind of man who was close to his grandmothers both in the US and Australia and brought them so much love and joy,” she said.

He attended Waverley College in the eastern suburbs and had worked at Mosman’s Fitness First between 2012 and 2018.