9:25am | According to the Long Beach Police Department, shortly after 8:00 pm on Friday, August 26, officers responded to an “unknown trouble” call in the area of 10th Street and Long Beach Boulevard. The calling party reported to the 911 operator that an unknown adult male hit her 14-year-old daughter. The operator, who was attempting to get more information from the caller, noted that the calling party was yelling at the suspect and refusing to answer questions.

According to the Long Beach Police department, the first officer to arrive on scene began to approach the scene when the radio dispatcher informed all responding units that there was a group of male Hispanic gang members fighting in front of the Superior Market, a business nearby, and that someone had been shot in the stomach. The officer drove through the parking lot and was directed by witnesses to a Honda, parked along the west wall of the parking lot, and told him that the occupant of the car needed help.

As the officer drove in the direction of the Honda, and other officers began to arrive, his attention was drawn to two male subjects who were walking towards the vehicle that he believed was occupied by the assault victim. When these two subjects were alerted to the presence of the police, they began to run from the scene and several officers pursued them. During the pursuit, the actions of one of the suspects caused one of the pursuing officers to fear for his safety and/or the safety of the other officers and an officer-involved shooting occurred. The subject was struck by the officer’s gunfire once in the upper torso.

Paramedics were immediately summoned and officers began life saving efforts until the arrival of the fire department. Once the fire department arrived on scene, the efforts to save the subjects life were deemed unsuccessful and the subject was pronounced deceased on the scene by fire department personnel. His identity is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin and he is only being identified as a 29-year-old resident of Long Beach.

During the course of the investigation that followed, two stabbing victims were located and transported to a local hospital where they are listed in stable condition. A search warrant was served later at a nearby residence, related to the gang fight, and one male adult was arrested for his role in the stabbings and a parole violation.

No weapon was found on the decedent, however, a knife was recovered in the path of his flight and it is unknown at this time if it is related to any of these events. 

In addition to the Long Beach Police Department’s ongoing investigation, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is also conducting an independent investigation, as is routine for all officer-involved shootings that occur in Los Angeles County.

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to call Long Beach Police Department Homicide Detectives David Rios or Roger Zottneck at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips can also be submitted via text or email by visiting the Department’s website, www.longbeach.gov/police.