The Long Beach Police Department has reported an arrest in the murder of Brandon Villarreal, a 21-year-old Long Beach resident killed on April 12. According to a press release by the Long Beach Police Department, a 15-year-old Long Beach resident was identified as the suspect in the homicide that unfolded on Cedar Walk.
Detectives gathered information that led them to the suspect who had traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, and was apprehended upon his return to California in Barstow on May 4th. The teenager was arrested during a pedestrian stop and was later booked into Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall on a murder charge, without the possibility of bail.
The investigation initially began when Long Beach officers were called to the scene of a shooting at around 5:50 p.m. on April 12. They found Villarreal suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of first responders, he later died at a local hospital. Authorities reported that the encounter between the victim and the suspect started as a verbal dispute before escalating violently.
While the motive is still being probed by the Homicide detectives, the case has since been presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. The Long Beach Police Department acknowledges the assistance they received from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Criminal Apprehension Team during the arrest. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Homicide Detectives Eric Thai or Chasen Contreras at (562) 570-7244 or submit anonymous tips through "LA Crime Stoppers."
