Redding police say there could have been more violence if they hadn’t been able to solve Monday’s Mercy Canyon murder case so quickly.

KRCR's Daisy Caballero spoke with detectives on the case about the disturbing things they found and how they managed to get an arrest in less than 10 hours.

Time is of the essence in these types of investigations,” said Captain Ron Icel, Redding Detective Division Commander.

Icely said it took crews10 hours to arrest 19-year-old Alejandro Nunez Armstrong of Redding and get him to confess to killing 50-year-old Karl Lee Bernardo of Redding at a homeless camp. He said it was old-school detective work that led to the arrest.

Officers interviewed witnesses and reviewed security footage to track down their suspect But he says “It doesn’t happen very often.

The clock started when officers found Bernardo in a tent with multiple gunshot wounds that came from two different guns. After officers identified Armstrong as their suspect they say they not only found the guns used in this crime but several others signaling the potential for additional violence.

Additionally, we found other firearms and we are still investigating how Mr. Armstrong came into possession with those firearms,” said Icely.

He says without the hard work of the officers on his team they would not have been able to get this dangerous man off the streets within hours.

This is the best thing we can do for the victim and for the victim’s family” said Captain Icley. “It is to successfully conclude that type of investigation that quickly.

Bernardo’s daughter, Cayley Marie, took to social media to discuss the loss of her father saying, "although we have been estranged for a few years, it does not make the pain hurt any less. I am so sorry to let everyone know this way but my beloved father Karl Lee Bernardo died at the age of 50 in a brutal murder."

Armstrong has been booked into the Shasta County jail. His motive remains unclear.