LB's First Murder Victim of 2021 Lived In Homeless Encampment, Just Over A Mile Due East of Multi-Million-Dollar NLB Homeless Facility

LBReport.com

News / Perspective

If LBREPORT.com didn't tell you,
who would?No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report.

LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. Support independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.

(January 12, 2021, 4:55 a.m.) -- LB's first murder victim of 2021 was a 64 year old man who lived in a homeless encampment, adjacent to the 91 freeway just east of Cherry Ave. (CD 9/Richardson).

In a release, LBPD says that on Jan. 10, 2021 at about 8:10 p.m., officers were sent to the 2300 block of E. 68th St. and located the shooting victim in a homeless encampment adjacent to the westbound lanes of the 91 freeway. LBPD began performing life saving measures; LBFD responded and determined the victim deceased at the scene.

LBPD's preliminary investigation indicated that the victim, Samuel Villalba, 64, resided at the encampment. He was shot multiple times in the upper torso. Witnesses at the scene described two or more male suspects fleeing the scene on-foot toward Cherry Avenue. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, although it is being investigated as gang-related.

Perspective

LBREPORT.com considers it newsworthy and comment-worthy that there is an active homeless encampment just over a mile due east of the City's multi-million dollar "Atlantic Farms Bridge Housing" (6841-45 Atlantic Ave.) The City spent $8 million in state taxpayer funds and $3 million in LA County taxpayer funds on the nearby City homeless facility..

Why did Mr. Villalba prefer to live in the homeless encampment rather than the taxpayer funded "homeless village"? Did the City (through its homeless outreach programs) have any contact(s) with Mr. Villalba after the NLB homeless facility opened in October 2020? Roughly how many other persons does the City currently estimate are in the 91-freeway adjacent homeless encampment? How many does it believe are in homeless encampments citywide>? How many homeless individuals/families are currently in the City's "Atlantic Farms Bridge Housing" facility?

Shortly before dawn Jan, 12, LBREPORT.com emailed the City's Director of Health and Human Services, Kelly Colopy, seeking her responses to these questions.

In October 2020, the City touted the opening of its 24/7 Atlantic Ave. homeless facility as a "low-barrier facility designed to allow people access whenever they are ready for support" that features:

Intake, security and COVID-19 health screening space.
Spacious common areas, including:
- A kitchen
- A dining room
- A lounge
- Laundry facilities
Gender-specific and gender-neutral restrooms and showers.
Case management/service connection offices.
A family respite room (for emergency overnight use).
Several outdoor amenities, including:
- A dining area
- A dog run and pet relief area
- Charging station
- Storage and parking
Further to follow.
[Scroll down for further.]