View Emotion Packed News Conference As LBPD Chief Luna Announces 15 Yr Old Cabrillo High Student Keshawn Brooks Was Fatally Stabbed While Walking Home From School Along 2800 block of Santa Fe Ave...And LBPD Has A Suspect (Age 18) In Custody
Multiple Familymembers Of Victim Attend Announcement; Victim's Father Speaks, Says His Son Wasn't A Gang Member And (With Chief Luna) Urges Anyone Who Saw Or Knows About What Took Place To Come Forward
WLB fatal stabbing comes roughly six weeks after a Jan. 24 drive-by shooting in the neighborhood just west of Santa Fe. Ave. and three blocks south of Spring St. It was the seventh shooting in West Long Beach (that we know about) in the past roughly ten months.
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(March 13, 2015, 5:30 a.m.) -- As carried LIVE on LBREPORT.com -- which provides extended on-demand VIDEO now -- Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna held an emotion-charged press briefing shortly after 10 p.m. on Thursday (March 12) -- flanked by multiple family members of Cabrillo High School student Keshawn Brooks, age 15, murdered just hours earlier -- to announce the arrest of an 18 year old suspect in the crime. Chief Luna -- and the victim's father -- both urged anyone who saw all or part of what took place in broad daylight along busy Santa Fe. across the street from Stephens Middle School to come forward and assist in LBPD's active and ongoing investigation.
Chief Luna said the victim, Keshawn Brooks, age 15 was fatally stabbed at roughly 3:25 p.m. as he walked home from school. (Family photo at right, provided at press briefing, cropped by LBREPORT.com at family's request to exclude a third party.) The victim's father, Keeyon Layton, spoke at the press briefing and said his son wasn't a gang member. Chief Luna said he'd met the family at the hospital, said they are "an amazing family" and "are as good [as any family] you'd ever meet."
The victim's father, Keeyon Layton, urged anyone "with any information or an eyewitness to please, please, come forward. My son was not a gang member. This was a murder done outright." He thanked the people who came to his son's aid so that he "was not alone at the time of his death."
Chief Luna said LBPD has a suspect in custody, whom officers located and apprehended within an hour of the murder, identified by LBPD as Giovanny Montelongo, 18, of Long Beach.
Chief Luna said that although the crime did not occur on a school campus, LBPD is working closely with LBUSD and thanked Superintendent Chief Steinbauser, who also attended the event. The Chief also thanked the community member [unidentified at this point] "who picked up the phone without hesitation called 911" and thanked community members "who rushed to Keshawn's side to provide first aid to him until paramedics arrived." Chief Luna said officers arrived at the scene within two minutes of dispatch.
Chief Luna noted that Long Beach crime is at 43 year lows, citing a citywide statistic, but LBREPORT.com notes that Thursday's WLB fatal stabbing comes barely six weeks after a Jan. 24 drive-by shooting in the neighborhood just west of Santa Fe. Ave. and three blocks south of Spring St...and by our unofficial tally was the seventh shooting in West Long Beach (of which LBREPORT.com is aware) within the past roughly ten months (one of which was fatal.) [LBREPORT.com has repeatedly noted that violent crime in Long Beach impacts certain areas of the city (mainly parts of central, west and north Long Beach) while other parts of the city are nearly entirely free of violent crime.]
Red Xs=2014 and 2015 murders to date; Blue Xs=2014 and 2015 shootings, person wounded; Brown Xs=shots fired at victim(s), not hit; Purple Xs=2014 shots at occupied residence/vehicle; Green Xs=shots at unoccupied vehicle/residence; Grey Xs=shots fired (no hit, no target identified); Orange X's=non-fatal stabbings. Map is unofficial for shootings in area shown.
Chief Luna and an initial LBPD release both said the motive for the crime is unknown and still under investigation. With the murder only a few hours old, Chief Luna didn't have details at hand regarding the suspect's background or whether LBPD considers the suspect to be a gang member.
Among those present at the event were Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal [spoke briefly at introduction; Mayor Garcia is in Europe as part of a Port of LB trade delegation.] LBUSD Superintendent Chris Steinhauser and LB School Boardmember Megan Kerr also attended (but didn't speak.)
[LBPD initial release text (issued at roughly midnight)]
On Thursday, March 12, 2015, at approximately 3:25 p.m., Long Beach Police received a 9-1-1 call from a community member regarding an assault with a deadly weapon call in the 2800 block of Santa Fe Avenue, which resulted in the death of a 15-year-old young man.
The victim, identified as 15-year-old Keshawn Brooks of Long Beach, was walking home from Cabrillo High School when he was confronted by a male suspect who attempted to grab his backpack. During the confrontation, the suspect stabbed Keshawn and ran from the location.
Officers arrived on scene within two minutes of being dispatched and located Keshawn who had sustained serious injuries. Community members had begun administering first aid to Keshawn until medical assistance arrived. He was transported to a local hospital by Long Beach Fire Department paramedics, and pronounced deceased shortly thereafter.
Officers at the scene quickly developed leads on the suspect's whereabouts, which led them to a residence in the 1700 block of W. Columbia Avenue, where he was apprehended.
The suspect has been identified as 18-year-old Giovanny Montelongo of Long Beach. He is currently being interviewed by detectives and will be booked at the conclusion.
A motive for this incident is unknown and still under investigation.
This incident occurred across the street from Stephens Middle School at the time school was letting out and numerous parents were in the area picking-up their kids. Therefore, detectives believe many parents witnessed some or all of the incident, and would like them to come forward.
Although this incident did not occur on a school campus, the Police Department is working closely with the Long Beach Unified School District. The district will be providing grief counseling support to any students in need.
Anyone with information should contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Malcolm Evans and Mark Bigel Guarino at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-222-tips (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to crimes or (274637), or by visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
(March 13, 2015, 5:30 a.m.) -- As carried LIVE on LBREPORT.com -- which provides extended on-demand VIDEO now -- Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna held an emotion-charged press briefing shortly after 10 p.m. on Thursday (March 12) -- flanked by multiple family members of Cabrillo High School student Keshawn Brooks, age 15, murdered just hours earlier -- to announce the arrest of an 18 year old suspect in the crime. Chief Luna -- and the victim's father -- both urged anyone who saw all or part of what took place in broad daylight along busy Santa Fe. across the street from Stephens Middle School to come forward and assist in LBPD's active and ongoing investigation.
Chief Luna said the victim, Keshawn Brooks, age 15 was fatally stabbed at roughly 3:25 p.m. as he walked home from school. (Family photo at right, provided at press briefing, cropped by LBREPORT.com at family's request to exclude a third party.) The victim's father, Keeyon Layton, spoke at the press briefing and said his son wasn't a gang member. Chief Luna said he'd met the family at the hospital, said they are "an amazing family" and "are as good [as any family] you'd ever meet."
