A 33-year-old Long Beach man was found shot and killed in a Downtown alley early Sunday after a dispute with a man, authorities said.

Police responded to a shooting call in the 700 block of E. Sixth Street at about 2:05 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16, a press release stated. Stevenson and St. Anthony’s elementary schools are just blocks away from where the incident happened.

When officers arrived, they found the victim unresponsive in the alleyway with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Long Beach firefighters determined he was dead at the scene.

“The preliminary investigation revealed a brief verbal dispute took place between the victim and a male adult suspect, which led to the shooting,” officials stated. “The suspect fled on foot in an unknown direction and remains outstanding.”

Authorities do not know the exact motive for the shooting, however, it is being investigated as gang-related.

Long Beach police define “gang-related” crime as any committed for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a gang.

The victim’s name will be released by the county coroner once next of kin have been notified.

Police raid dozens of locations in response to suspected gang murders

The fatal shooting comes just days after police announced sweeping raids targeted at suspected gang members believed to be connected to a string of recent shootings and homicides.

The Long Beach Police Department is seeking the public’s help in gathering additional information regarding this incident to further the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to immediately contact LBPD Homicide Detail Detectives Oscar Valenzuela or Eric Thai at 562-570-7244.