| (June 25, 2021, 11:15 a.m.) -- Last night (June 24) a man was found shot to death in his vehicle in the 1400 block of Cedar Ave. (CD 1/Zendejas), a working class historically disadvantaged area just north of 14th St. Park in the Washington Middle School neighborhood (a little over a mile due north of LB's gleaming new Civic Center.).
In a release, LBPD states that on June 24, 2021 at roughly 10:42 p.m., officers were sent to assist Long Beach Fire Department personnel who were responding to a report of a shooting victim at 15th Street/Cedar Ave. LBPD says its officers were first to arrive on scene, followed by LBFD personnel. Officers located the victim in his vehicle in the 1400 block of Cedar Ave., suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. They performed life saving measures until fire personnel determined the victim deceased at the scene. The victim has been identified as Rafael Araiza, 22, of Long Beach. [LBPD release text] The preliminary investigation suggests an unknown suspect approached the victim as he sat in his vehicle and a shooting occurred. Homicide detectives responded to canvass the scene for witnesses and evidence. While the motive is not yet known, the case is currently being investigated as gang-related. Since Jan. 1, 2021, the Council districts represented Zendejas and Saro have had the highest number of shootings -- 30 shootings each (number includes fatal shootings + woundings + casings/strike marks with no victim visible.]) [Scroll down for further.] |
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