LONG BEACH, CA – The Long Beach Homicide detectives confirmed the deceased from a double shooting on Thursday is Mario Morales-Moreno. The fatal incident occurred around 6:45 p.m. along the 600 block of 61st Street in Long Beach.
Apart from the death of 51-year-old Morales-Moreno, a second victim was shot in the leg and is projected to survive. Morales-Moreno, who was doing yard work at the time, unfortunately succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Morales-Moreno’s alleged niece honored him in an Instagram post, describing him as an army veteran who retired just two years ago. The Long Beach Police stated on Friday, they did not believe Morales-Moreno was the intended shooting target. The motive behind the incident is currently under investigation.
The shooting stirred fear among local residents, with one anonymous woman acknowledging that neighborhood safety concerns halted her regular park visits. This comes on the heels of another recent shooting that resulted in the death of a well-known street vendor, “the corn guy.” In addition, a 17-year-old girl was reportedly shot dead last month as she was returning home from work. However, the authorities have clarified that these three incidents are unrelated.
Following the string of shootings, the local authorities plan to reinforce patrolling and engagement efforts. As announced by a Long Beach Police spokesperson, officers detained three men near the crime scene. One of them, found possessing a firearm, was subsequently arrested, but their involvement in the shooting is still not clear.