• Jorge Robles, a case manager at Centro C.H.A. [Community Hispanic Ass'n. in Central LB], asked the City to post a reward to catch the driver. Mr. Robles indicated that Mr. Gomez was going home from the El Dorado Park skate park when the fatal hit-and-run occurred and was a Centro C.H.A. group participant enrolled in a program through the Dept. of Labor. "His bright and full life was cut short because of a heartless, irresponsible drive that struck him and left him to die on the street like his life didn't matter. Danny doesn't deserve this and his family doesn't deserve this. Danny deserves justice and his family deserves justice so he can rest in peace. Danny is a victim of crime, and his family is a victim of crime, and our whole community is a victim of crime. On behalf of Centro C.H.A....we plead with the City Council to issue a reward for the person that killed Danny Gonez. Let us not let Danny Gomez life become another youth that becomes a grave statistic in Long Beach and his case goes unsolved..."

• Veronica Rouse said she was speaking on behalf of Danny Gomez's mother (and at times speaking through tears) and likewise asked for the Council to post a reward. "On Spring Street and Studebaker there is no lighting, no speed bumps, not enough crosswalks. And so we want to urge maybe the Council to put up something in that area to prevent any more accidents 'cause some other child was killed there about two years ago.

  [Ed. note: a 16 year old Millikan High student was struck and killed by a vehicle at Stevely Ave. after he was allegedly involved in a water balloon fight with another individual on the center median. One of the water balloons apparently hit an eastbound vehicle, causing it to go into a skid; the victim ran north across the westbound lanes of Spring St. when he was struck and killed by an oncoming vehicle].

  ...We're are just hoping for some small reward put up so we can get more people to give tips or leads...and we're just looking for some upport from the city so his mom can at least have some peace after we bury him..."

5th dist. Councilwoman Stacy Mungo, in whose district the accident occurred just under sixty days since she took office, said "I am personally saddened that we lost a neighbor to this tragedy. I do want the community to know that the City has had several meetings about this area and we want to do right by the family to make sure that this is a safe area where kids can play at the park but not hopefully go into the street so that other tragedies like this don't happen. We've talked with our police force and a few of us have started communicating with other local jurisdictions that are usually the lead in putting out rewards related to this kind of matter. And so as we progress and understand the complexities of putting out these reards, we'd like to be able to communicate with you directly and someone from our police force will reach out and talked to other jurisdictions reward in this matter and understand complexities communicate with you directly and let you know what we're able to do in this matter.

3rd dist. Councilwoman Suzie Price (an OC prosecutor) also spoke: "I've been a vehicular prosecutor...and I know that it must be very painful for you guys to be here as victims of this crime. Something I always tell victims in all of my cases is that the process of healing for each and every one of you is advocating and doing everything that's in your power to fight for justice for him, so I know that right now trying to find the person who was the driver of that car is the most important thing to you and it's your mission, and part of your whole process of closure involves you seeking justice for him so that you don't feel that he died in vain...The process of healing is a very, very long process...It just breaks my heart and I just want to say to you guys you need to do what you need to do for him so that you can start the process of closure for yourself, so that you can start the healing process which is going to be a long way away so thank you for coming, and I wish you guys all the best."

Councilwoman Mungo then added, "You may have seen me at Spring Street over the last two days, and my call to action to the community is respect: respect for Danny's dignity means that we treat each other in our community with respect...For those who have utilized this great tragedy in a way that's been a bit destructive, it doesn't serve Danny in any way, we want his memory to live on the way we remember him not through disrespect for our city..."

Mayor Garcia said "On behalf of all of us, our hearts go out to the whole family...We're very sorry for you loss and I really hope that the person that did this will be brought to justice so we'll do what we can. Thank you"

As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, as of Monday Sept. 15 at roughly 1:30 p.m. a grassroots memorial shrine was visible along the north side of Spring St. at Karen Ave. (two blocks east of Studebaker Rd.) Candles, flowers and heartfelt messages were visible alongside fresh graffiti at the base of a lamp post as well as graffiti on the Spring St. pavement. Graffiti stains were also visible on the adjoining sidewalk [which appear to have been pressure-wash removed.]

Circles are accident investigators' marks. Graffiti in street says "RIP Danny Boy."

Below is perspective of the scene:

Looking east on Spring St.

LBPD investigators' marks on Spring St. from the westward marked location, looking eastward.

The location at Karen Ave. doesn't have a crosswalk but it is (if working) illuminated by a light.

In response to our inquiry, LBPD PIO spokesperson Nancy Pratt said via email that there doesn't appear to be any gang connection in what happened and LBPD believes Mr. Gomez was alone at the time of the collision,

The location is a bit west of the spot where in June 2012, a 16 year old Millikan High student was struck and killed by a vehicle (at Stevely Ave.) after he was allegedly involved in a water balloon fight with another individual on the center median. One of the water balloons apparently hit an eastbound vehicle, causing it to go into a skid; the victim ran north across the westbound lanes of Spring St. when he was struck and killed by an oncoming vehicle.

LBPD says Mr. Gomez was attempting to cross Spring St. where there's no crosswalk in the midnight hour Saturday (Sept. 13) when he was struck by an oncoming westbound vehicle. Its driver, LBPD says, applied his/her brakes and put the vehicle into a 107 ft. wheel-locked skid, then drove off, leaving Mr. Gomez with extremely serious injuries that he did not survive.

As reported on Sept. 13 by LBREPORT.com, LBPD stated in a release:

On Saturday, September 13, 2014, at approximately 12:11 a.m., Long Beach Police responded to the area of Spring Street east of Studebaker Road regarding an injury, hit and run traffic collision resulting in the death of a male adult.

When officers arrived, they discovered an unconscious adult male victim lying in the street about 115 feet past the initial area of impact.

Long Beach Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and determined that the victim was not breathing and they transported him to a local hospital. The victim had sustained major injuries and was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Based on the preliminary investigation, detectives believe the victim was walking across Spring Street, outside of a crosswalk in violation of 21954(a) VC. While crossing, the victim was struck by a silver Honda traveling west on Spring Street. After colliding into the victim, the vehicle left over 107 feet of locked wheel skids before fleeing the scene.

The driver of the Honda has not yet been identified and is not in custody at this time. Whether alcohol was a factor in the collision is yet to be determined.

The identity of the deceased is not being released pending notification to next of kin.

Anyone who may have witnessed or has information regarding the collision is urged to contact Long Beach Police Collision Investigation Detective Steve Fox at (562) 570-7355. 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.