Two additional teenage suspects have been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy in Long Beach in January, police said on July 12.
Long Beach Police Department Special Investigations Division detectives located two 16-year-old boys suspected of fatally shooting Khalil Saleem at two separate locations on July 11, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
Officers responded to the 1000 block of East 21st Street near Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to arrest one of the 16-year-old suspects, while the second 16-year-old suspect was arrested in the 5400 block of North Paramount Boulevard near Via Miranda.
Both teenage suspects were booked for one count of murder and are being held in custody without bail.
“These two arrests are a testament to the hard work and dedication demonstrated by our personnel,” Long Beach Police Department Chief Wally Hebeish said. “They are to be commended.”
Scientific Investigation Division detectives located and arrested a 16-year-old boy in the 1000 block of Magnolia Avenue near West 10th Street on March 16 in connection with the January fatal shooting, police said.
Another teenage suspect, identified as a 17-year-old boy, was arrested in the 1500 block of West Hill Street near Santa Fe Avenue, also on March 16.
Both suspects were arrested and booked for one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder and are being held without bail.
The names of all four suspects were not released because of their ages.
Officers responded Jan. 21 to an initial report about shots fired where Salem was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body upon police arrival. Police said officers rendered life-saving measures until Long Beach Fire Department paramedics arrived.
Salem was taken to a hospital in critical condition, where he later died from his injuries. Two other victims also sustained gunshot wounds, but those injuries were deemed non-life-threatening.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were at the basketball courts in Silverado Park in the 1500 block of West 31st Street near Caspian Avenue when an SUV drove by and an occupant or occupants fired several rounds at them.
Police said an unidentified individual on the basketball courts returned fire at the suspect’s vehicle before the vehicle fled the scene.
It’s unclear what the motive is behind the fatal shooting, and police are conducting an ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information regarding the fatal shooting was urged to call Long Beach Police Department Homicide Detectives Michael Hutchinson or Lisette Temblador at 562-570-7244. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
