Two people have been arrested in connection to a shooting at a Valero gas station in North Long Beach Tuesday night that left a man dead.
Eloy Lobato Jr., 37, of Long Beach, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murder, while Russell Nieto, 35, of Wilmington, was taken into custody on suspicion of accessory to murder, according to authorities.
Both men were also booked for one count each of possession of a firearm, according to the Long Beach Police Department. Lobato’s and Nieto’s bail was set at $2 million and $35,000, respectively, authorities said.
Police say Lobato shot the man following a physical confrontation at the gas station parking lot in the 6900 block of Atlantic Avenue.
Officers were notified of the shooting just after 10 p.m. and responded to the area, where they found the man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body, according to the LBPD.
The officers rendered aid to the man until Long Beach Fire Department personnel arrived and transported him to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said. The man’s identity has not been revealed by authorities, although they previously said he worked at the gas station.
Police did not specify how they identified Lobato as a suspect in the shooting, however, they said he was taken into custody Wednesday, along with Nieto, in the 4000 block of Long Beach Boulevard, just east of Long Beach’s Los Cerritos neighborhood.
It’s still not clear what sparked the physical confrontation between the men, according to police, who said detectives are still working to determine a motive.
Detectives will present the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office later this week for filing consideration, police said.