Gunfire cut through a street takeover in North Long Beach early Saturday, but police say no one was hit in the chaos. Officers were sent to the intersection of Victoria Street and Long Beach Boulevard at about 3:10 a.m. after reports of shots fired during an illegal sideshow, authorities said.
What Police Say
According to the Long Beach Post, officers were told while they were on the way that gunfire had been heard in the area. Police said evidence was collected at the scene, and detectives reported that suspect information and a possible motive are still under investigation. No arrests were reported.
The incident is the latest linked to the ongoing street takeover problem in North Long Beach. Earlier this month, a separate takeover near Downey Avenue left a man wounded in a shooting, according to MyNewsLA.
Hotspots and Social Media
Investigators and researchers say these takeovers tend to pop up in the same trouble spots and spread fast online. A USC Annenberg project chronicled by LAist flagged Susana Road and Victoria Street as recurring takeover locations and found that livestreams and viral clips often help pull in even bigger crowds.
City Response and Legal Tools
City leaders have been trying to clamp down on the sideshow scene. The Long Beach City Council voted last fall on a measure that would make promoting illegal sideshows a criminal offense, as reported by the Long Beach Post. The city also points to its Safe Streets/Vision Zero initiative as part of a broader strategy to reduce roadway deaths and crack down on dangerous driving, according to City of Long Beach materials.
Police say evidence from the scene is still being analyzed and the investigation remains active. Authorities have not announced any arrests and said they plan to release updates as they develop.
