A Long Beach man was charged today with murdering his roommate during a dispute that authorities say escalated into a fight at the home they shared in the city’s Washington neighborhood.
Saleem Omom Smith, 46, is set to be arraigned Aug. 24 in a Long Beach courtroom, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Jail records show that Smith was arrested Tuesday in connection with the alleged attack July 24 on Marcus George.
The 50-year-old man died of blunt traumatic injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“Detectives believe George and Smith were roommates and involved in a dispute, which escalated into a fight and resulted in George’s death,” Long Beach police said in a statement.
Officers went to the residence around 9:05 p.m. July 24 on a report that a man was unresponsive inside the location, according to police.
George was discovered on the floor, suffering from injuries to his upper body, and he died at the scene, police said.
Smith remains behind bars, according to jail records.
Police arrest man on suspicion of killing his roommate in Washington neighborhood apartment