Tragedy struck a Long Beach neighborhood as gun violence claimed the life of a 51-year-old man and left another injured. The Long Beach Police Department reported a double shooting on the evening of April 4th, around 6:44 p.m., in the residential area of the 600 block of 61st Street. According to the official LBPD blotter, a male victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds to his lower body and was listed in stable condition after being rushed to a local hospital.
The second victim, now identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner as Mario Morales of Long Beach, was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound to his upper body. The KTLA report highlighted that Morales was declared dead at the scene. Witnesses told KABC that Morales was simply doing yard work with a leaf blower in front of his home before being shot.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, and no arrests have been made as of yet. Details provided by LB Post indicated that police closed off the vicinity for evidence gathering, shutting down Atlantic Avenue from 60th Street to Harding Avenue and 61st Street from Atlantic to Olive Street.
Although someone was seen being taken into custody, as captured by AIR7 HD and reported by KABC, it was unclear if that person was a suspect related to shootings. The Long Beach Police Department's Lt. John Hotchkiss told the LB Post, "The investigation is ongoing." The community awaits answers as authorities press forward in search of justice for the victims and their families.
