3:30pm | The 

Long Beach Police Department announced several arrests today in the murder investigation of Frank Robles of Lake Elsinore. Yesterday, LBPD served search warrants at six locations in the Cities of Norwalk, Compton, Bellflower and Perris and an additional warrant was served today at a location in Lake Elsinore, resulting in the arrest of five suspects.  



On Monday, August 9, 2010, the Long Beach Police Department responded to a report of a shooting in the 1400 block of West 16th Street.  Upon arrival, officers found that 33-year-old Frank Robles of Lake Elsinore had been shot and died a short time later at a local hospital.
 

According to LBPD, during the course of the investigation, Homicide Detectives learned that the victim’s home in Lake Elsinore was subsequently burglarized by four suspects within hours of the murder.  For the past 13 months, detectives interviewed people in the Lake Elsinore area and have believed that the burglary was connected to the murder. 

The investigation revealed that the Mr. Robles went to an auto repair shop with a large sum of cash to make the final payment on the purchase of a vehicle. Once at the shop, he was approached by two male Black suspects, one of them identified as Shawn Verette.  They showed the victim a star badge, shot him, took his cash, and fled the location.  

A few hours later, the suspects, along with two male Hispanic suspects identified as Luis Orozco and Luis Garcia, broke into the Robles home looking for additional cash.  The group took unspecified items from the home and fled.  The second male Black suspect is not being identified at this time due to the ongoing investigation. It has been determined that Suspect Luis Garcia was killed in Mexico in June of 2011; however, there is no indication that his death is related to this case. 





All suspects are being held at the Long Beach City Jail awaiting arraignment in Long Beach Superior Court on Tuesday, October 11, 2011.
 



Anyone who may have information regarding this investigation should contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Malcolm Evans and Todd Johnson at (562) 570-7244.  Anonymous tips may be submitted via text or e-mail at www.tipsoft.com.

 
Suspects #3 (left) and #4 (right)

September 30, 8:55am |
On September 16, the Long Beach Police Department released sketches of two black males believed to be responsible for the murder of Franklin Robles who was killed during a robbery on Monday, August 9, 2010, in the 1400 Block of W. 16th Street in Long Beach.

The preliminary investigation revealed that victim Robles, who is from Lake Elsinore, had come to Long Beach to purchase a vehicle.  Once at the location, he was approached and robbed by two male Black suspects.  According to witnesses, the suspects then fled in a dark colored van, which has since been recovered, and forensic evidence from the van is being processed.

Several hours after the murder, a witness in Lake Elsinore reported seeing a tan Chevy Suburban with two male Blacks and two male Hispanics at the victim’s residence.  Detectives believe these four suspects are responsible for  the burglary  that  occurred to victim Robles’  home  within hours of his murder, and may also be connected to his death.  The Police Department now has completed the sketches of the two male Hispanics who are described as:

Suspect #3 – male Hispanic, 5’5″ to 5’9” tall, medium build, short hair, a small goatee, and with multiple tattoos on both arms

Suspect #4 – male Hispanic 5’7” to 6’0” tall, medium build, a shaved head with a pudgy face

These two male Hispanics were with the two male Blacks at the burglary scene.  Their connection to the murder is not yet known, however, detectives are requesting the public’s help in identifying these two subjects in order to interview them regarding the murder.

Anyone who may have any information on the identity or whereabouts of these individuals is urged to 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 www.tipsoft.com.



September 22, 10:35am |
On September 16, the Long Beach Police Department released two composite sketches of the burglary suspects that may be the same suspects involved in the robbery and murder of a Lake Elsinore man.  After media reports began to air, detectives received an anonymous tip regarding the location of the dark colored van that was used in the robbery and murder.  Detectives were able to locate the above van prior to it being destroyed at a salvage yard in the City of Chula Vista.

Detectives reviewed surveillance tapes from the area that were provided at the time of the 2010 murder and were able to locate the van driving away from the crime scene.  However, at the time, detectives did not have evidence to link it to the murder scene.

Detectives are currently processing the van for DNA, prints and other forensic evidence, including historical ownership verification through the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Detectives believe the anonymous caller may have additional information which might help them, and are asking for that person to contact detectives once again. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone else who may have information regarding the identity of the suspects or vehicles involved in this case are strongly urged to 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 www.tipsoft.com.


Suspects #1 (left) and #2 (right)

September 16, 4:34pm | The Long Beach Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying the above suspects who they believe may be responsible for the murder of Franklin Robles who was killed during a robbery on Monday, August 9, 2010, in the 1400 Block of W. 16th Street in Long Beach.

The preliminary investigation revealed that victim Robles, who is from Lake Elsinore, had come to Long Beach to purchase a vehicle.  Once at the location, he was approached and robbed by two male Black suspects.  According to witnesses, the suspects then fled in a dark colored van.

Several hours after the murder, a witness in Lake Elsinore reported seeing a tan Chevy Suburban with two male Blacks and two male Hispanics at the victim’s residence.  Detectives believe these four suspects are responsible for the burglary that occurred to victim Robles’ home within hours of his murder, and may also be connected to his death.

The burglary suspects were described as:

Suspect #1 – male Black, 35 to 40-years-old, 5’11” – 6’0” tall, 220-230 lbs, with short black hair and was reported to look like a thug

Suspect #2 – male Black, 40 to 45-years-old, 6’0 – 6’1” tall, 200-210 lbs, with short grayish/black hair

These descriptions are similar to the suspect descriptions provided in the Robles murder.

Detectives have produced composite sketches of the two male Black burglary suspects, and are still working on composites of the male Hispanic suspects.  They believe the two male Black suspects may be the same individuals involved in the Robles murder, who then committed the Lake Elsinore burglary to his home.

On Monday, September 19, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives will be going out to the neighborhood where the murder occurred (1400 Block of W. 16th Street in Long Beach) to canvas the area.  They will be handing out Public Information Bulletins that include information about the murder and with these composite sketches, to residents hoping to gather additional information and identify these individuals.

Anyone who may any information on the identities or whereabouts of the suspects is urged to 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 www.tipsoft.com.


Stock photo.

 
September 2, 10:30am | The Long Beach Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect(s) or the above vehicle involved in the murder of a Lake Elsinore man who was killed during a robbery on Monday, August 9, 2010, in the 1400 block of West 16th Street in Long Beach.
 
The preliminary investigation revealed that 33-year-old Franklin Robles of Lake Elsinore had gone to the location to purchase a vehicle. Once at the location, he was approached and robbed by two male Black suspects. During the robbery, the victim was shot in the upper body, transported to a local hospital, and pronounced deceased a short time later.
 
Through their investigation, detectives have recently learned through a witness that a tan Chevy Suburban, similar to the vehicle depicted in the above photo, was seen parked at the victim’s residence in Lake Elsinore, which investigators discovered had been burglarized after the murder in Long Beach.
 
At this time, the investigation remains ongoing.  Anyone who may have information regarding this incident or the vehicle is strongly urged to 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 www.tipsoft.com.