A small group of attackers gunned down a young man as he was walking through a residential neighborhood in North Long Beach Sunday evening, according to neighbors.
The 18-year-old victim was on the sidewalk on E. 69th Way moments before a group of three people came around the corner at Muriel Avenue and confronted him, according to neighbors who later watched security camera video of what happened.
The trio of attackers talked to the victim before he ran across the street and tried to duck between two parked cars as the shooters opened fire, according to the neighbors, who asked not to be identified because the gunmen have not been found.
A 17-year-old and her mother heard the first gunshot quickly followed by half a dozen more right outside their house around 7:10 p.m.
“It was so close. It was right there,” said the daughter, who immediately called police.
As her father went outside, she ran to get a towel to put pressure on the young man’s wounds, but it looked like he was already dead, she said.
Police and medics also tried live-saving measures, but the young man died at the scene, according to authorities, who identified him as Eronald Deas of Compton. A Bible and two candles on the curb Monday morning marked the place of his death.
“The motive for the shooting and description of the suspects is currently unknown,” police said. “Detectives are actively working to gather additional information to further the investigation.”
Police said they’re deploying more officers in the neighborhood, which is near the Compton-Long Beach border, in response to the shooting.
Authorities asked anyone with information to contact Detectives Sean Magee or Adrian Garcia at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips can be submitted by contacting Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to 274637, or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.