A quiet Sunday in Bixby Knolls turned tense when an off-duty Long Beach police officer opened fire on two men who had just robbed him, authorities said. The confrontation happened near Bixby Road and Orange Avenue around 1:30 p.m. The officer was not injured, the suspects ran off, and investigators said it was not immediately clear whether anyone was hit. The Long Beach Police Department says the incident remains under investigation.
Police account
In a written statement, the department said the off-duty officer "was approached by a male suspect who pointed what is believed to be a firearm at him while another male suspect robbed him," and that the officer then fired at the suspects, according to the Long Beach Post. The outlet reported that police did not know whether the suspects were struck and that the department offered no additional details in the statement released Sunday afternoon.
Where it happened
The robbery and gunfire unfolded in Bixby Knolls, a mixed retail and dining corridor east of downtown that local groups bill as the neighborhood’s commercial hub. Bixby Knolls Info describes the intersection of Bixby Road and Orange Avenue as a center for local shops and community events, a familiar crossroads for nearby businesses and regular foot traffic.
Legal corner
Even off the clock, officers who use force are judged under the same state standards that apply when they are on duty, and California law sets a relatively narrow bar for using deadly force. Under Assembly Bill 392, deadly force is allowed only when it is "necessary in defense of human life," and officers are expected to consider de-escalation and alternatives when feasible, as the Los Angeles Times explained when the law took effect. That legal framework is expected to shape how officials review this shooting as evidence is gathered.
Investigation ongoing
The Long Beach Police Department told the Long Beach Post it is continuing to investigate and has not released any additional information about the suspects or potential charges. No arrests were mentioned in the department’s statement, and detectives are still working to piece together what happened in those brief moments at the busy neighborhood intersection.
