A 45-year-old man experiencing homelessness was arrested in the shooting death of a 44-year-old woman in Long Beach, police said Sunday.
Detectives arrested Nathaniel Ford at about 11:25 a.m. Saturday during a traffic stop in the 1400 block of Pacific Avenue, the Long Beach Police Department reported.
Following the arrest, detectives went to a Los Angeles address associated with Ford in the 1700 block of East 61st Street and allegedly turned up a firearm and other evidence.
“The firearm will be sent to the Long Beach Police Department’s Forensic Science Services Division, where it will undergo ballistic testing to compare it with evidence collected at the time of the murder,” police said.
Officers responded at 11:50 p.m. Thursday to the 1700 block of Pine Avenue, where they found Dalila Williams with a gunshot wound to her body, Lt. Brandon Deis said.
The preliminary investigation indicated a male adult suspect was involved in a dispute with Williams, which escalated into a shooting, Deis said.
“At this point in the investigation, detectives believe Williams and Ford were not known to one another when they became involved in the dispute, which led to the shooting,” police said. “Detectives anticipate presenting their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office early next week for filing consideration.”
Ford was arrested on suspicion of murder and was being held in lieu of $2 million bail.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting was asked to contact homicide detectives Ethan Shear or Jose Rodriguez at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.
