On August 1, 2009, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Long Beach Police were dispatched to a shooting call in the 1100 block of Hoffman Avenue, which resulted in the death of an 18-year-old male adult.

When officers arrived, they found a male subject identified as Leonardo Benitez of Lake Perris, who had sustained a gunshot wound to the upper torso. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The victim was declared brain dead on August 2, 2009, but was kept on life-support for several days for the purpose of organ harvesting.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that a red or maroon mini-van was possibly involved in the shooting. Detectives located video surveillance footage from a nearby business showing what appears to be a red, possibly Dodge mini-van. Detectives believe this vehicle may be involved in the death of Victim Benitez, and are asking anyone with information regarding the vehicle or the incident to contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Russ Moss or Terri Hubert at (562) 570-7244.