The Long Beach community is grappling with the recent loss of a young woman, as authorities continue their search for a suspect in a fatal shooting. Justice Lopez, 21, was killed on Friday around 11:40 a.m. inside her residence on the 900 block of Gaviota Avenue, as reported by CBS News Los Angeles.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered Lopez with a gunshot wound to the upper body, despite life-saving attempts from officers and Long Beach Fire Department personnel, Lopez was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital, as detailed by the LBPD's official press release.
The LBPD has indicated that the incident was likely not a random attack. A male suspect is described as having approached Lopez in her residence, fired the fatal shot, and then fled on foot before police could arrive on the scene. This sequence of events points towards a premeditated act, though the motive behind the shooting is still under active investigation.
As detectives continue to piece together this tragic puzzle, they request that anyone with information about the incident come forward. The detectives handling the case, Oscar Valenzuela and Michael Hubbard, can be reached at (562) 570-7244, and individuals wishing to remain anonymous have the option to submit tips through "LA Crime Stoppers."
