(April 5, 2009) -- A LB resident playing basketball at a LB park noticed thieves were stealing his personal items, gave chase...and was shot dead.

LBPD says Garrett Norris, 27, chased two unknown males into an alley in the area of Spaulding St/Temple Ave. and was shot in the torso at about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday April 4.

The two suspects have only been described as males in their late teens to early twenties.

Homicide Detectives responded to the scene and LBReport.com is told they worked working throughout the night on this case and are following up on all leads.

This is the fourth LB murder within the past three days (April 2, CSULB student, 700 block Bellflower Blvd; April 2: Man was shot to death shortly after midnight in gas station area Market St/Atlantic Ave.; April 3: Man shot dead in car, Anaheim St/Junipero Ave.).

LBPD Public Information Officer Jackie Bezart says Detectives have ruled out any connection between this shooting and other recent shootings.

LBPD is seeking the public's help in identifying the suspects in this Spaulding/Temple area case. The investigation is ongoing...and LBPD asks anyone who saw anything or has information regarding this incident to contact Homicide Detectives Mark McGuire or Hugo Cortes at (562) 570-7244 immediately.