Long Beach
Police Department

On Friday, June 26, 2020, at approximately 7:30 p.m., officers from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) were dispatched to a gas station in the 3000 block of Bellflower Boulevard regarding a report of an accidental discharge of a firearm. 

When officers arrived on scene, they learned that a male adult customer inside the business had accidentally discharged a handgun, striking himself in the lower extremity. Long Beach Fire Department paramedics transported the man to a local hospital for treatment of his non-life threatening injury. No one else was injured during the incident, and a handgun located at the scene was collected and booked into evidence.

The subject involved in the incident was identified as a retired LBPD Sergeant, Jeffrey Garcia, a 54-year-old resident of Long Beach. Garcia was recently named in an earlier story regarding a separate investigation into threats made against a known journalist. At this time, it is not believed that this incident is related to that investigation.  

Anytime a firearm is discharged in public, a thorough investigation is conducted. Both the preliminary and subsequent investigations for this incident will be thoroughly evaluated, just as it would for any other member of the public. While the Department does not typically release detailed information regarding this type of incident, information is being released in a proactive effort to ensure openness within our community.

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is urged to contact LBPD Homicide Detail at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the "P3 Tips" app to your smart phone (available at the Apple app store or Google Play), or by visiting www.crimestoppers.org.