Girl Survives as Long Beach Man Gunned Down

A 20-year-old man was fatally shot in Long Beach by one of three young men who confronted him about gang affiliation, but a girl with him managed to flee, and three suspects were arrested, police said.

Gerardo Placencia of Long Beach was fatally wounded along East Seventh Street near Rose Avenue about 8:50 p.m. Tuesday, said Long Beach police Sgt. Aaron Eaton said.

Police later arrested Montreal Hill, 19, and Eric Hubbard, 18, as well as a 15-year-old boy whose name was withheld because he is a minor, Eaton said.

Placencia, who was with a 12-year-old family member riding a scooter, walked by three men as they left a business near Gaviota Avenue, said Eaton. One of the three asked Placencia what gang he belonged to, but he did not answer immediately, Eaton said, adding that Placencia urged the girl ith him to scoot faster.

The trio followed Placencia and the girl, catching them near Rose Avenue, Eaton said. One suspect pulled out a gun and shot Placencia, and the girl ran away to get help, he said.

The area is known gang territory, Eaton told Patch. It is less than two miles and an estimated six-minute drive from the Belmont Veteran's Pier.

The homicide was the second in Long Beach this week. On Friday, Estuaredo Rodriguez, 19, of Long Beach, was shot to death near West Seventh Street and Chestnut Avenue.

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Long Beach Police Department detectives Malcolm Evans or Todd Johnson at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted via text or web by visiting www.tipsoft.com. 

--City News Service and Nancy Wride produced this report.