Botched Los Cerritos burglary leaves woman dead, male suspect in custody

Sean Belk and Cory Bilicko
Signal Tribune Staff

One female suspect has been killed and a male suspect is in jail after a botched burglary at a Los Cerritos home.
On Tuesday night, Tom Greer, 80, arrived home and found suspects Gus Adams, 26, of Long Beach, and Andrea Miller, 28, of Long Beach, burglarizing his residence located on the 600 block of Terrylynn Place, according to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) and media reports.
The suspects immediately began assaulting Greer, striking him repeatedly and ultimately throwing him onto the floor, according to LBPD Police Chief Jim McDonnell in a press conference Thursday afternoon. The female continued to strike Greer while Adams walked over to the homeowner’s safe and attempted to break into it. After Miller also attempted to break into the safe, Greer retrieved a gun from another room and fired at the suspects, who then fled from the home with items taken during the burglary.

Greer followed the suspects out of the house and continued firing shots at them. Miller was struck by gunfire, fell in a nearby alley and died at the scene, according to McDonnell. Adams fled the scene, but police later found him and arrested him, McDonnell said.
The LBPD is charging Adams with robbery and homicide, although he and Miller were both unarmed, McDonnell confirmed. Adams is currently being held in Long Beach jail at more than $1 million bail. McDonnell said the pair had prior criminal histories similar to the incident.
Police believe the man’s home had been burglarized three previous times, during which cash and personal property were stolen.
“It was [Greer’s] belief that the people in his home at the time were responsible for the prior crimes as well and might return in the future,” McDonnell said.
McDonnell indicated that the primary reason for conducting the press conference was to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident after Greer made statements to news media that Miller had stated, “I’m pregnant. Don’t shoot.” McDonnell said during the press conference that he could not confirm whether Miller was pregnant or not, adding that the coroner’s office would make that determination. If Miller was indeed pregnant, the district attorney would determine whether or not to charge the homeowner with double homicide, McDonnell said.
“We’re looking at every piece of evidence we have,” the police chief said, adding that the LBPD plans to present the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office with all the evidence on Friday, July 25.
The case is being turned over to the DA’s office, which McDonnell said, will determine whether or not to press charges against the homeowner for homicide or if the shooting could be deemed self-defense. At press time, he had not been arrested and McDonnell indicated that he did not appear to be a “flight risk.”