FURTHER UPDATE: LBPD Says Officer Involved In April 23 Fatal Shooting Of Suspect Has Been With LBPD For Over Twenty Years; PD Indicates Residence Was Vacant (Not Resided In) And Had Fresh Gang-Related Graffiti Inside
LBPD Release Describes What It Says Responding Officers Encountered That Preceded Officer-Involved Shooting; 19 Year Old Male Suspect Is Dead, No Weapon Found; Two Men + Two Women (All In Early 20s) Are Arrested For Trespassing, One Man For Allegedly Violating Anti-Gang Injunction
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April 24, 2015, 7:12 p.m.) -- LBPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Megan Zabel says the officer who fatally shot a suspect on April 23 has been with LBPD for over twenty years. Sgt. Zabel confirms that the shooting occurred in a vacant (not resided in) Central LB apartment unit whose inside walls were allegedly covered with fresh gang-related graffiti.
(April 24, 2015, 4:15 p.m.) -- LBPD has issued the following release with preliminary information describing what it says occurred on April 23 in a Central LB (south of Anaheim St. b/w Orange-Walnut Aves.) when an LBPD officer fatally shot a 19 year old male suspect
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[LBPD release text] On Thursday, April 23, 2015, at approximately 2:45 P.M., officers responded to a residential multi-unit complex in the 1100 block of Hoffman Avenue regarding a report of several subjects unlawfully trespassing and vandalizing inside a vacant residence which resulted in an officer involved shooting.
The preliminary investigation has determined the following:
When the officers arrived they discovered an open window with no screen at the rear of the residence.
The officers located a second window that was broken, with the screen removed.
An officer looked through the opening to the broken window and observed a male suspect standing next to a wall.
The officer observed the suspect turn towards him, while bending his knees, and extending his arm out as if pointing an object which the officer perceived was a gun.
At this point, an officer involved shooting occurred.
The suspect was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and was later pronounced deceased.
The suspect has been identified as 19-year-old Hector Morejon of Long Beach.
No officers were injured during this incident.
The interior of the residence was covered with gang-related graffiti.
A weapon was not recovered from the scene.
The following individuals were detained at the scene and arrested related to this incident.
Name
Age
City of Residence
Charges [arrested on suspicion of]
Edgar Rodarte
20
Long Beach
Trespassing
German Rodarte
21
Long Beach
Trespassing, Gang Injunction Violation
Yesenia Pineda
22
Long Beach
Trespassing
Celia Cox
22
Long Beach
Trespassing
The Police Department thoroughly reviews all use of force incidents through a rigorous multi-step process that evaluates legal, policy, tactical and equipment issues. In addition, all officer involved shootings where a death occurs, are independently investigated by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detail at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
(April 24, 2015, 5:10 a.m.) -- As reported on LBREPORT.com's front page yesterday (April 23), a midafternoon officer-involved shooting occurred in the neighborhood just southeast of MacArthur Park (south of Anaheim St.)
Investigations (routine after officer-involved shootings) are underway and information is sketchy as of dawn today (April 24.) LBPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Megan Zabel provided preliminary information below shortly after the incident occurred:
On April 23 at roughly 2:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 1100 block of Hoffman Ave. regarding a report of several subjects allegedly trespassing and tagging inside a vacant apartment. Officers discovered a broken window and a second window open with screen removed.
An officer observed a male subject inside the apartment; an officer involved shooting occurred; a 19 yr old male was struck and was transported to a hospital.
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LBPD's investigators responded to the scene and, as with all officer involved shootings, the L.A. County DA's Office also responded and is conducting an independent investigation.
We'll update our report with further as we learn it.
