Two people have been arrested in the death of a 12-year-old boy killed in a drive-by shooting in Long Beach.
Eric Brown III was on a sidewalk at about 11:30 p.m. on May 9 in the 2200 block of Lewis Avenue when he was shot and killed.
The shooting likely stemmed from a gang altercation, the Long Beach police chief said at a news conference Friday that Eric and two other teens with him were not involved in a gang.
Reshawn Strother, 20, of Cypress, was already in custody in an unrelated attempted murder case but was expected to be booked as a murder suspect in the Long Beach shooting Friday, Wally Hebeish, according to the chief of Long Beach Police.
Destenee Sheree Scipio, 21, of Long Beach, was arrested Wednesday.
Authorities said other people were likely involved in the shooting. A $25,000 reward is being offered for information in the case.
A 14-year-old girl suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
After spending more than 30 years in and out of prison, living a life surrounded by crime and drugs, Joseph Valadez now has a master’s degree in sociology from Cal State Long Beach.
Police said there is no evidence to suggest the victims knew their attackers. Automatic license plate readers helped lead police to the suspects, authorities said.
“This investigation is still ongoing and active,” Hebeish said Friday. “We believe this incident stemmed from a prior gang altercation that did not involve the victims.”
Strother is a documented gang member and Scipio is believed to be his girlfriend, police said.
“This incident was devastating to our entire community,” Hebeish said. crime like this.
Anyone with information is asked to contact homicide detectives at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips can be submitted through LA Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app, or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
It was not immediately clear if the suspects have lawyers. Strother was being held on $5 million bond and Scipio was being held on $4 million bond, according to Long Beach police.
