Officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of East 4th Street on Thursday, Aug. 12 at approximately 2:00 a.m. in response to a potential hit shooting that had just taken place, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
While traveling to the site, officers were advised that a group of bystanders were trying to detain the shooting suspect, police said. When officers arrived, bystanders identified the suspect.
The suspect was later identified as 28-year-old Arturo Reyes Ortiz of Long Beach.
According to LBPD, officers attempted to initiate contact with Reyes Ortiz, who then began to flee on foot. As Reyes Ortiz was fleeing, he fired a handgun towards the officers, according to police.
Officers then lost sight of Reyes Ortiz, and established a perimeter around the area.
A little while later, a resident informed police of a suspicious person in their apartment complex.
After Reyes Ortiz was located within the apartment complex, an LBPD SWAT team responded to the scene. A four-hour standoff followed.
LBPD said in a press release that Reyes Ortiz was given multiple opportunities to surrender, but refused to comply.
According to LBPD, moderate force was used to take Reyes Ortiz into custody, who suffered a non-life-threatening injury from a police dog to the upper body.
No bystanders or police were injured.
The Long Beach Fire Department took the suspect to a local hospital.
According to LBPD, a preliminary investigation revealed that Reyes Ortiz fired at least one shot at police before his gun malfunctioned.
LBPD detectives are currently interviewing witnesses to see if he fired his weapon before police arrived.
“I want to commend our officers for the courage they show every day while running towards danger to protect our community,” Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna said. “This suspect showed a complete disregard for the lives of others and must be held accountable.”
He continued: “Our officers’ actions of safely de-escalating a volatile and violent situation demonstrate the extensive training they receive and show how difficult it is to be a police officer today. Gun violence in our city is very concerning for all of us and your police department will continue to find solutions to peacefully address crime in our city.”
A loaded gun was found at the scene and will be processed by LBPD’s Forensic Science Services Division
After Reyes Ortiz is medically cleared, he will be booked for attempted murder.
A motive is not currently known, but detectives believe this was not a random act of violence and that the suspect was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to please contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Adrian Garcia and Sean Magee at (562) 570-7244. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS ‘(8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org.
