An armed man wanted in a series of robberies in Long Beach was fatally wounded in a police shooting at a 7-Eleven when he refused to drop his gun, authorities said this morning.

Detectives were performing surveillance of a dark colored Nissan Altima believed to have been used in robberies in the city earlier this week when they spotted the armed suspect get out of the car and walk into the convenience store on Pacific Coast Highway near Clark Avenue around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

Long Beach Police detectives at the scene. Photo by Stephen Carr

The detectives followed the suspect into the business and witnessed a robbery in progress, police spokeswoman Shaunna Dandoy said.

Detectives told the suspect to drop his gun multiple times and he wouldn’t comply, leading them to shoot the suspect, police said.

Information was not immediately available on how many detectives or officers were involved in the shooting or how many times the suspect was shot.

Detectives performed life-saving measures on the suspect until paramedics arrived and pronounced the him dead at the scene, police said. The coroner’s office will release his identity after his next of kin is notified.

A second suspect was in the car parked on the street behind the business, Dandoy said. Police identified him as Devontae Moore, a 22-year-old Long Beach man, and arrested him on suspicion of robbery. He is being held on a $350,000 bail.

The employee and two customers inside the business during the incident did not report any injuries, nor did any officers, according to Dandoy.

A forensics team recovered the gun used in the robbery at the scene.

Police shut down the area while they investigated the shooting. Photo by Stephen Carr.

An investigation into the shooting prompted closures of Pacific Coast Highway between Anaheim Street and Granada Avenue and Clark Avenue between Anaheim and Atherton streets until 8 a.m.

Police believe the Altima was involved in multiple armed robberies and one attempted robbery at businesses in Long Beach within the last week, including an apparent spree on Sunday night between 9:55 and 10:20 that hit four locations in Bixby Knolls:

  • Sunday, Sept. 15 at approximately 9:55 p.m. at a Chevron gas station at 3395 Orange Avenue
  • Sunday, Sept. 15 at approximately 10:00 p.m. at a Subway at 3400 Long Beach Boulevard (attempted)
  • Sunday, Sept. 15 at approximately 10:10 p.m. at a 7-Eleven at 4200 Long Beach Boulevard
  • Sunday, Sept. 15 at approximately 10:20 p.m. at a 7-Eleven at 5000 Long Beach Boulevard
  • Monday, Sept. 16 at approximately 11 p.m. at an Arco gas station at 4895 Bellflower Boulevard
  • Tuesday, Sept. 17 at approximately 10 p.m. at an Arco gas station at 200 West Willow Avenue

They also believe the car was involved in additional armed robberies outside of the city. Police have not released the exact locations of the robberies.

This is the first time Long Beach police have shot someone since February, marking a significant decline in the number of police shootings this year compared to previous years. Long Beach had four police shootings in 2018, down from nine in 2015—the highest point over the last five years, according to stats from the department.

The suspect firearm next to a casing from the detective’s firearm, according to police, on September 19, 2019. Photo courtesy of LBPD.
Officers collect evidence. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Detectives outside the 7-Eleven. Photo by Stephen Carr.

Breaking News Editor Jeremiah Dobruck contributed to this report.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional details from police. 

Valerie Osier is the Social Media & Newsletter Manager for the Long Beach Post. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ValerieOsier