Breaking news out of Long Beach reveals a significant update in a months-old murder investigation. Detectives have placed Joseph Ballard, a 23-year-old from Long Beach, at the center of the October 22 fatal shooting of Thomas Ferguson, a 33-year-old Fontana resident. Ballard was already in state prison for unrelated charges when he was booked on an outstanding murder warrant, according to an official statement from the Long Beach Police Department website.
Previously suspected of being at a violent crossroads with Ferguson, Ballard now faces arraignment on the murder charge set for later this week. Investigators believe the altercation became fatal when it escalated into gunfire. At the time of the incident, it wasn't clear if Ferguson and Ballard knew one another, and that detail remains a mystery as detectives continue their quest for truth and justice.
The initial emergency call that drew first responders to 14th Street and Palmer Court in October painted a dire picture. A man, later identified as Ferguson, lay on the ground, his body bearing the marks of a brutal shooting. Despite the best efforts of officers and Long Beach Fire Department personnel, Ferguson's injuries overpowered him, leading to his death at a local hospital, as per the Long Beach Police Department.
The Long Beach Police Department's Homicide Detectives encourage anyone with knowledge about the event to step forward. Their belief that multiple individuals bore witness to the shooting in or around 14th Street Park deepens the need for public assistance. Detectives Jesus Espinoza and Alfredo Chairez can be reached at (562) 570-7244 for tips, with the option for anonymity through "LA Crime Stoppers."
