Photo of victim Esaul Villagrana provided by Long Beach Police Department.
1:30am | Authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward in the investigation of the death of 23-year old Long Beach resident Esaul Villagrana, a known member of a Los Angeles gang who had left his past behind upon moving to Long Beach and was shot dead as he exited his car on October 26, 2009 near the intersection of 20th & Cedar.
An anonymous caller contacted police shortly after the shooting with intimate knowledge of the incident, but police have not heard from the source since. They are asking anyone with information to call Homicide Detail at 562.570.7244.
Villagrana’s pregnant wife, still seated in the car, was nearly hit as well. The couple was on their way to visit family for dinner when a male Hispanic suspect shot and killed Villagrana. After previous involvement in a Los Angeles gang, Villagrana had moved to Long Beach to distance himself from his violent past, according to authorities.