UPDATE | On Saturday, January 10 at approximately 2:00AM, officers responded to a residence on the 6500 block of E. Rosebay Street to investigate a shooting stemming from a domestic dispute involving a male suspect. The incident resulted in two officer involved shootings and injury to one officer.
At approximately 2:50AM, while officers were still at the scene investigating the initial shooting incident, the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Joseph Gonzales, called the home and stated he was on his way back with his infant son, and made threats towards the family members and police officers. According to the Long Beach Police Department, the suspect specifically stated he would harm the baby and use him as a shield against police.
Gonzalez returned to the location driving a dark colored SUV. He got out of his vehicle, confronted officers, and an exchange of gunfire occurred. The suspect then got back in his vehicle and fled, and officers initiated a vehicle pursuit. It was unknown at the time whether or not the baby was actually in the vehicle.
When the suspect reached the area of Bandini Street & Oliver Street in San Pedro, he stopped his vehicle and fired upon officers, who returned fire. The suspect then drove off, stopped again shortly thereafter, and surrendered. He was taken into custody without injury.
The infant was located in the backseat of the suspect’s vehicle at the conclusion of the pursuit. Although uninjured, he was transported to a local hospital as a precaution and released later to family in San Pedro. A handgun was located in the front seat of the suspect’s vehicle.
One officer was injured from glass fragments from his patrol vehicle window when it was struck by gunfire. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment and released.
Gonzalez has been booked for attempted murder, evading police, child cruelty that could result in possible injury or death, assault with a firearm on a police officer, felon in possession of a firearm, parole violation, and is being held at the Long Beach City Jail without bail. He is currently on parole on an unrelated case. It was determined the suspect resides at the Long Beach residence with the mother of the child and other family members.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incidents and has not spoken with investigators should contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
10:58AM | A suspect has been arrested following an officer-involved shooting in Long Beach this morning and a pursuit that involved a five-month-old baby in the suspect’s car.
The incident, which began with a shooting during a domestic dispute, started on the 6500 block of East Rosebay Street just before 2:00AM, said Long beach Police Department (LBPD) spokeswoman Nancy Pratt.
The suspect was gone when officers arrived, but he returned to the scene of the crime, at which point he and LBPD officers began shooting at one another.
The suspect then got into his car and was chased by police from Long Beach to San Pedro, all the while with a baby in the car. Initial police reports did not say if the baby was in a special car seat or if police knew the child was in the car during the chase.
Another exchange of gunfire broke out near the intersection of South Bandini Street and West Oliver Street in San Pedro after the suspect led officers in a pursuit down the 110 and 405 Freeways.
One Long Beach police officer suffered minor injuries during the shootout, Pratt said, when glass shattered in a patrol car.
The uninjured suspect surrendered and was arrested, Pratt said. Officials said the baby was not injured but was taken to an area hospital for evaluation.
It was not disclosed how long the chase was.
Pratt said police found a gun inside the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect’s name was not immediately released.
No further details were available. We will update this story as we learn more.