(May 20, 2002) -- A 32 year old LB resident was murdered on Sunday night May 19 while talking to his wife in the 300 block of E. Esther Street near LB Blvd., one block south of PCH in the 1st Council district.
Police say that at about 8:45 p.m., Richard Lee Graves, Jr. was standing at the curb near his residence, talking to his wife through an open window of her car, when two young male suspects walked toward the couple, one of them armed with a handgun.
Mrs. Graves immediately drove away from the area, and as Mr. Graves attempted to flee, one of the suspects shot him in the head.
Mr. Graves was transported to St. Mary Medical Center and pronounced dead at 9:08 p.m.
LBPD believes the shooting is possibly gang related. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Steven Smith or Hector Hieves at (562) 570-7244.