Three people were arrested for the possible gang-related shooting death of a 33-year-old man in Long Beach, police said Sunday, July 5.
The suspects are Juan Lopez, 20, of Long Beach, arrested near his residence in the 1400 block of Cedar Avenue and booked on a murder charge; Brandon Garcia, 23, of Hawaiian Gardens, arrested outside his residence in the 1200 block of 216th Street and booked on murder and attempted murder charges; and Richard Frias, 20, of Long Beach, arrested outside his residence in the 1500 block of Stanton Place and booked on a murder charge and a charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, according to police.
The arrests came between July 3 and July 5, and all the suspects were each being held at the Long Beach jail on $2 million bail, police said.
Soktear Phuy, 33, died in a shooting at an apartment building in Long Beach. Responding officers found Phuy lying in a courtyard with gunshot wounds to his chest, police said.
The shooting was reported about 7:40 p.m. June 29 in the 1400 block of Rose Avenue, police said.
Paramedics took him to a hospital, where he died.
“The exact motive for the shooting is currently unknown,” police said in a statement. “However, the incident is being investigated as gang- related.”
According to a press release from the Long Beach Police Department, Homicide detectives are working with detectives from the LBPD’s Gang Detail, who have been investigating a string of similar shootings in recent months.” All of the shootings are believed to be gang related and involve many of the same suspects.
“Homicide and Gang detectives will continue their investigation until all involved suspects are brought to justice,” the press release stated. “Detectives anticipate presenting cases on the above-named suspects to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office early next week for filing consideration.”
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call police at 562- 570-7244, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
