Police said today that they quickly arrested a gunman suspected of shooting a man to death in his North Long Beach garage on Tuesday afternoon. The Long Beach Police Department said the two men know each other, but they’re still investigating a motive for the killing.
Police identified the victim as Jeffrey Poorman, a 44-year-old Long Beach resident who was shot multiple times at a home on Lime Avenue near 59th Street around 1:30 p.m.
Poorman died at the scene, and police began a search for the gunman, who’d fled before officers arrived.
“In less than seven hours, LBPD personnel identified and safely arrested this violent murder suspect, once again demonstrating the focus we will maintain on capturing those willing to victimize others,” Chief of Police Wally Hebeish said in a statement.
Police identified the suspect as Mathew De Diego, a 19-year-old resident of Long Beach.
Booking records show De Diego lives in North Long Beach, about a mile from the scene of the shooting. He was taken into custody at a home on Gardenia Avenue near the intersection of Del Amo Boulevard and Cherry Avenue, records show.
Police said he was arrested on suspicion of murder and held on $3 million bail.
The LBPD encouraged any witnesses to contact detectives Michael Hubbard or Jesus Espinoza at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips can be sent through Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with details about the arrest.