[LBPD release text] On Friday, July 18, 2014, at approximately 4:20 p.m., Long Beach Police responded to the 2100 block of Earl Avenue regarding a shooting call, which resulted in the death of a male adult.

When officers arrived, they located the victim, identified as 25-year-old Alexander Johnson III of Long Beach, who had been struck in the upper body by gunfire. He was transported to a local hospital in serious condition, and pronounced deceased shortly thereafter.

Based on the preliminary investigation, detectives determined that the victim was standing out in front of the location when a vehicle drove up. The driver of the vehicle and the victim became involved in a verbal confrontation. The driver then produced a handgun and fired at the victim. The suspect was described as a male Black driving a dark colored vehicle. The incident is being investigated as gang-related.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Scott Lasch and Donald Goodman 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.

(July 18 initial report) -- In initial information, LBPD Public Information Officer Nancy Pratt says officers responded at approx. 4:40 p.m. to the area of Hill/Earl regarding a shooting. They found a male victim [no age in initial info] who was transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased after arrival.

LBPD is investigating the shooting as possibly gang-related, PIO Pratt says.

On May 24, a 34 year-old man was shot and killed in the area of Lime Ave./19th St. (east of Atlantic Ave.)

On April 8 in the predawn hours, a man (adult) was stabbed to death in the 2000 block of Locust Ave. (about a block south and east of the July 18 fatal shooting.