double-murder that took the lives of a man and a woman...and police say what took place does not appear at present to be gang related and Detectives are "following-up on all leads."
LBPD says that at about 12:40 a.m., West Division Patrol Officers were sent to the 1800 block of Gardenia Ave. [Central LB, near PCH one block west of Cherry Ave.] regarding an unknown trouble call...and on arrival discovered a man and a woman had been shot.
LBFD Paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene. The woman was transported to a hospital where she did not survive.
L.A. County Coroner Lt. Larry Dietz said the man and the woman appear to be L.A. County's first two homicide victims for 2009.
[update] Lt. Dietz identified the woman as Vannaly Tim, 24...and the man as Sarith Em, 25. They were both Long Beach residents.
LBPD says the investigation by Homicide Detectives is ongoing and there's no suspect information for now.
Anyone who may have witnessed what took place or who has information regarding it, is asked to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Russell Moss or Pat O'Dowd at (562) 570-7244 right away.
