Alleged Burglar Fatally Shot While Breaking Into Vacant Long Beach Building
LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — An alleged would-be burglar was fatally shot while apparently breaking into a Long Beach building.
Officers were called to the 200 block of Artesia Boulevard at about 5 a.m. Monday and found a man on the sidewalk who had been shot in the torso. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
Police say his name is being withheld pending notification by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.
According to the initial investigation, the resident shot the suspect as he was breaking into the building, police said.
KCAL9's Randy Paige spoke to a woman who heard the gunshots.
"I just heard pow, pow, pow, pow. When you hear gunshots, sometimes you get low," said Cherry Martin, "so when I heard the gunshots I just laid low."
"The suspect was confronted and shot during the incident and the resident called police and remained at the scene and is cooperating with law enforcement for the investigation," said Long Beach Police Sgt. James Richardson.
Another officer told Paige the building was vacant and the owner was bordering up windows from a previous break-in when he confronted the suspect.
Neighborhood residents said the deceased was someone they have seen on a skateboard in the early-morning hours.
"I seen this young man on the ground," said Martin, "and they're trying to save his life. That hurts. That hurts to see somebody lying like that. This is sad, sad."
Paige spoke to neighbors who wonder how a burglary could be in progress inside a building with nothing to steal.
Police told Paige the owner is cooperating and at headquarters answering questions.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, police said.
