A 32-year-old man suspected of shooting a woman to death in Long Beach was arrested following a police pursuit, authorities said on Monday, March 21.
Long Beach Police Department officers were called about 3:30 p.m. Sunday to a strip mall in the 6600 block of Cherry Avenue on what was initially reported as a stabbing, but found the woman at the scene suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to a department statement.
The woman was taken by paramedics to a hospital, where she died of her injuries. Her name was withheld pending notification of her next of kin.
Investigators said the woman was sitting in her car with another occupant at the strip mall when the suspect approached the vehicle on foot and shot her, according to the LBPD.
“Detectives learned the victim and suspect were long-time acquaintances, and the suspect specifically sought out and targeted the victim,” according to police.
The other occupant of the vehicle was not injured in the shooting.
LBPD units found the suspect—later identified as Corderell McKnight of Wilmington—just after 7:10 p.m. the same day in the 2800 block of Long Beach Boulevard and attempted to stop his vehicle, but he allegedly fled in the vehicle and led officers on a pursuit.
The pursuit was handed off to the California Highway Patrol once it entered the San Diego (405) Freeway, and McKnight was later arrested by police in Los Angeles, according to the LBPD.
LBPD officers responded to the scene of the arrest and took McKnight to be booked on suspicion of murder. He remains at the Long Beach Police Department jail, where he is being held on $2 million bail, the department said.
Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to contact LBPD Dets. Donald Collier or Leticia Gamboa at 1-562-570-7244. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.