A man who was shot to death during a fight in a beach parking lot in Long Beach was identified today.
The wounded man died at the scene of the shooting, which was reported at about 10:35 p.m. Tuesday in the 4300 block of East Ocean Boulevard, said Lt. Paul Gallo of the Long Beach Police Department.
Justin Morris, 27, was the victim of the shooting, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.
Morris, known to some as “Fluffy,” was a fire spinner and performer at nearby Rosie’s Dog Beach who was well-liked, according to his friends.
“He had multiple parts in our conclave,” Molly Ferrall, a friend of Morris’ told NBC 4. “We were so lucky to have him as part of our family.”
Officers were sent to the scene on a report of a shooting, police said.
“Upon arrival, officers located an unconscious male adult victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body,” police said in a statement.
Homicide detectives responded to the scene to investigate the incident.
“The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was in the parking lot practicing a dance routine when he became involved in a verbal dispute with a group of unknown male suspects,” police said. “The dispute escalated into a physical altercation and, subsequently, the shooting, which resulted in the victim’s death. All suspects fled the scene prior to officers arrival.”
No descriptions were available of the suspects. The fatally wounded man was found near a silver sedan with its side windows “shot out,” according to Fox 11.