A Long Beach man died Friday night after being shot in the Washington neighborhood near Magnolia Avenue and 15th Street, officials said.
He was identified as 36-year-old Jaime Ruiz.
Police arrived on scene at about 10:55 p.m. where they found Ruiz with gunshot wounds to his upper body. Paramedics took him to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, police said in a news release.
Investigators said they’ve learned that prior to the shooting, Ruiz and two other victims were outside a home when a man approached the group. The men spoke and then the suspect opened fire on all three victims, police said. They could not elaborate on the nature of the verbal exchange, spokeswoman Arantxa Chavarria said.
The suspect fled the scene before police got there, according to Chavarria. The two other victims were not injured in the shooting. Police are investigating the incident as gang related and do not have a description of the suspect yet.
The fatal shooting happened hours after another suspected gang-related shooting that left two men injured in West Long Beach. However, police don’t believe the two shootings are related, Chavarria said.
Long Beach police define “gang-related” crime as any committed for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a gang.
“In response to recent shootings, the Long Beach Police Department will be increasing saturated patrols in various areas of the city for the next couple of weeks,” police said in the release. “Investigative resources will also be augmented and we will continue to work with our community partners to strengthen communication and cooperation. The Department is committed to combating violent crime and with your help, we can have a safe City for all people.”
Police ask anyone with information on the incident to contact homicide detectives Sean Magee or Adrian Garcia at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477)or by visiting www.crimestoppers.org.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with more information from police.