The man who was stabbed to death last week in Long Beach’s California Heights neighborhood was a local who lived just a few dozen yards from where the attack happened, according to neighbors.

A memorial now marks the spot where 51-year-old David Gross was mortally wounded on Orange Avenue just north of Wardlow Road on July 11.

Someone placed flowers in front of a small sign with Gross’ pictures scrawled with messages like, “Such a huge loss. I love you forever.”

Gross was a “gentle giant” who was friendly but mostly kept to himself, according to Tyler McCarty, who said he runs an antique shop across from the house where Gross lived with a group of people.

A man working in the front yard of the house declined to give his name or say much about what happened because he feared the killer would return.

“It happened so fast,” he said.

According to police, a car may have hit Gross around 9:30 p.m. as he was crossing the street. The driver got out and, after an altercation, stabbed Gross, according to police and accounts from neighbors.

The crash that led up to the stabbing appears to have been random.

“At this point our investigators do not believe there is any indication that they knew each other,” Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman Arantxa Chavarria said.

Neighbors said men from the home where Gross lived would frequently cut across Orange Avenue to the liquor store across the street for a snack or something to drink.

Police haven’t arrested anyone. The investigation is “still very fluid,” Chavarria said.

Police have only identified the suspected attacker as a man who was driving a white vehicle. Authorities said he drove off north on Orange after the attack.