The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) has identified and charged a suspect in a shooting death that occured two decades ago.
On May 4, 1996, around 10:30pm, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 500 block of East 14th Street that resulted in the death of 26-year- old Jorge Martinez of Long Beach.
The investigation revealed that Martinez was standing on the side- walk alone when he was approached by several Samoan gang members. It was recently learned that, at the time, 21-year-old Long Beach resident Wayne Taufi, aka Big Fassi, shot Martinez, passed the gun to another gang member, and fled in a vehicle. Martinez was pronounced deceased at the scene. When the new information identifying Taufi as the suspect came to light, detectives reopened the case.
Detectives are also attempting to gather additional information on four other male subjects who were present at the time of the murder. Those individuals are identified by their street monikers: “Wizard,” “Lil Boy,” “Fuzzy” and “Whisper.”
Taufi, currently 40 years old, was already in custody on unrelated charges.
Long Beach Police Homicide detectives presented their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration. On July 7, 2015, the District Attorney’s Office filed murder charges against Taufi for Martinez’s murder. Taufi is currently being held at the Los Angeles County Jail.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Those with information regarding the incident or the individuals identified by their monikers are urged to contact the Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Todd Johnson and Shea Robertson at (562) 570-7244.
Those wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus their tip to 274637 (CRIMES) or visit lacrimestoppers.org .
Source: LBPD
