Authorities determined that a man who shot and killed a 17-year-old alleged robber in Long Beach last month did so in defense of a victim, it was announced Monday, June 14.
Officers arrived at the scene of the shooting and found a mortally wounded Guillermo Mayorga III, of Riverdale, Georgia, in a hotel parking lot in the 3600 block of Santa Fe Avenue about 11:20 p.m. on May 28, according to coroner’s Lt. David Smith and the Long Beach Police Department. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mayorga had an unidentified accomplice who was also wounded by the gunfire.
The robbery victim, described as a male, was found in a hotel room with a gunshot wound to his upper body, police said. Paramedics took him to a hospital with stable vital signs.
A preliminary investigation revealed Mayorga attacked his victim in the parking lot while his accomplice joined in the robbery, police said.
Mayorga fired multiple rounds from a handgun, striking the robbery victim and his accomplice, who fled on foot.
The fight continued between Mayorga and the robbery victim until a third person—described only as a man—became involved and shot Mayorga, police said. That man then fled the scene.
The man turned himself in to Long Beach Police Department Headquarters at about 3 p.m. Thursday and was interviewed by detectives.
Investigators determined that the man’s actions were in defense of the original robbery victim, which police said was corroborated by supporting evidence and video surveillance footage.
The man, whose name was not released, was not arrested and detectives plan to present the facts of the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office once their investigation is complete, police said.
Mayorga’s accomplice was not identified and remains outstanding.
Anyone with information about their whereabouts was urged to contact LBPD homicide detectives Donald Collier or Leticia Gamboa at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.