Murder victim Frank Castro Jr. and suspect #1 of five.
12:45pm | The Long Beach Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects wanted in connection with a 2009 shooting that injured three Long Beach men, one of them fatally.
On Thursday, November 19, 2009, at approximately 11:30pm, Long Beach Police responded to a shooting call in the 3600 block of Santa Fe Avenue, which resulted in the death of one male adult and the injuring of two others.
The preliminary investigation revealed that three subjects were walking in the 3600 block of Santa Fe Avenue when they were approached by at least two male subjects on foot that fired at the group, striking all three subjects. One victim, identified as 19-year-old Frank Castro Jr. of Long Beach, was struck multiple times in the upper body and torso and determined deceased at the scene by Long Beach Fire Department paramedics. The other two victims, ages 18 and 40 and both from Long Beach, were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and treated and released.
Suspects #2 and #3.
Homicide detectives responded to the scene to begin their investigation and through witness interviews have been able to piece together a series of events leading up to the murder. Witnesses told investigators there was a group of approximately five male Blacks loitering near two cars parked on the south side of Arlington Street east of Santa Fe Avenue. At least two suspects walked away from the group and confronted the victims as they were walking; words were exchanged. After shooting the victims, the suspects, who are believed to be members of a Long Beach gang, rejoined the group and together they fled in the two cars they had been standing near. The vehicles are described as a purple 4-door compact and a small brown 4-door compact.
Detectives have worked with witnesses to develop sketches of the subjects loitering and the suspects seen confronting the victims. The two suspects who confronted the victims, identified as Suspect #1 and Suspect #2 on the sketches above, are described as male Blacks 18 to 22 years of age, 5’10”-6’2” and 160-180 pounds. One of the suspects was wearing his hair in long braids and the other was wearing a black beanie.
Suspects #4 and #5.
At least three other subjects, identified as Suspect #3, #4, and #5 (above), were with the two suspects who approached the victims just prior to and after the shooting. They are all described as male Blacks in their early 20’s with an average height and medium build. The shooting is being investigated as gang-related and the investigation remains ongoing.
Detectives are asking anyone who may recognize any of these individuals, who knows of their whereabouts, or has information relating to the murder, to please contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Malcolm Evans and Todd Johnson at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted via text or web by visiting http://www.tipsoft.com/.