Armed Suspect Dead After Exchanging Gunfire With Long Beach Police

On Sunday at 10:10 p.m., Long Beach Police officers were involved in an officer involved shooting in the area of East Rhea Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, which resulted in the death of a male adult.

In an ongoing effort to curb violent crime in the City, officers were working as part of a violent crime task force in the 900 block of East 19th Street when they attempted to stop an adult male suspect on a bicycle. The suspect immediately fled on foot, and a foot pursuit was initiated. 

After several de-escalation attempts by the officers, the suspect continued to be uncooperative. Officers first deployed their conducted electrical weapon on the suspect. The suspect then brandished a firearm towards one of the officers. Officers indicated at least one shot was fired by the suspect, and an officer involved shooting occurred.

Officers rendered aid to the suspect until Long Beach Fire personnel arrived on scene. The suspect was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The suspect is only being identified as an adult male, pending identification by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. 

The firearm believed to be in the possession of the suspect was located at the scene.

No officers were injured during the incident.

As with all officer involved shooting incidents, the Department will be conducting a full and thorough multi-level review of the incident. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will conduct an independent investigation of the incident, as they do with all officer involved shootings that result in injury or death.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to contact Long Beach Police Department Homicide Detectives Oscar Valenzuela and Eric Thai at (562) 570-7244. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org.