The Long Beach Police Department reported the arrest of Jesse Galvan, 45, on suspicion of his involvement in the 2021 murder of Samuel Villalba, who was found shot to death at a local homeless encampment. According to a statement by the Long Beach Police Department, Galvan, a resident of Lakewood, was apprehended at his home last Thursday, and his bail has been set at $2 million.
Police initially responded to the scene on January 10, 2021, after reports surfaced about a shooting on East 68th Street, adjacent to the 91 Freeway. Villalba, 64, had been shot multiple times in the upper torso and was declared dead by first responders. Witnesses described seeing two men running from the scene, pointing investigators to believe there was more than one person involved in the crime.
Before Galvan's arrest, Andrew Reyna, a 47-year-old from the same city, was taken into custody in October 2024 at a Lynwood motel. As reported by FOX LA, Reyna was also placed under arrest for murder and is likewise being held on $2 million bail. Neither the Long Beach Police Department nor the reporting outlets has disclosed the evidence leading to the suspects' identification and arrest.
With Galvan's recent arrest, authorities continue seeking additional information to aid the investigation. In statements obtained by CBS News Los Angeles, the LBPD encourages anyone with pertinent information to step forward and contact Homicide Detectives at (562) 570-7244, or to anonymously provide tips through "LA Crime Stoppers."
The investigation into Samuel Villalba's shooting remains open, as detectives continue to unravel the narrative of that January night in 2021.
