The Long Beach community was shaken earlier this year by a tragic event that has now led to an arrest. A 17-year-old girl, Briana Soto, lost her life to gun violence, becoming yet another grim statistic in the city's ongoing struggle with crime. On March 26, 2024, officers rushed to the 1100 block of Lewis Avenue after receiving reports of a shooting, where they found Soto with a gunshot wound to her upper body. Initially, in critical condition, the teenager was transported to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries four days later, as reported by Hoodline.
Despite the initial lack of evidence and the anonymous nature of the suspect, who was captured on video in all dark attire and a mask, the case saw a significant development this month. Long Beach Homicide Detectives, after employing investigative tools such as DNA, video, and cellular phone evidence, have identified and arrested Troy Lamar Fox, 34, linking him not only to Soto's murder but also to two other gun-related incidents in the area, as per an official statement by Long Beach Police Department.
Fox was in custody for an unrelated weapons violation when he was identified as a suspect. Subsequent investigations connected him to two further incidents: a shooting directed at juveniles and one adult in a vehicle on April 9, and a July discovery of firearms in a vehicle shared with a juvenile, who both were prohibited possessors. Detectives also executed search warrants that led to the recovery of an additional loaded assault rifle, as detailed by Long Beach officials.
On Sept. 11, evidence was presented to a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant for Fox for the murder of Briana Soto and the attempted murder on April 9. He was taken into custody and is currently being held on $2,000,000 bail, according to Long Beach Police Department. Chief of Police Wally Hebeish expressed the profound impact of the tragedy, saying, "Briana’s death has left her family devastated and has impacted our department immensely."
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will soon be presented with the case for filing consideration. Meanwhile, detectives continue to urge anyone with information to step forward. Long Beach Police Department extends a call to action through Homicide Detectives Ethan Shear or Chasen Contreras, or through "LA Crime Stoppers," for tips that can assist in bringing closure to this case and justice for Briana Soto's family.
