Long Beach
Police Department

Homicide detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on June 24, 2023, in the 600 block of Roycroft Avenue.

At approximately 12:29 a.m., Emergency Communications Center Police Dispatch began receiving numerous calls for service regarding a suspicious person on Roycroft Avenue and Quincy Avenue. A calling party reported a woman was following residents home and knocking on front doors and windows; they also reported that the woman did not live in the neighborhood. At 12:59 a.m, Dispatch received a call that a shooting had occurred and dispatched officers to a priority 1 emergency call. Officers were on scene within approximately five minutes of the dispatch. 

Once on scene, officers found a female adult with a gunshot wound to her head. Officers immediately began performing life-saving measures and requested medical aid. Long Beach Fire Department personnel responded and determined her deceased at the scene.   

The subject has been identified as Andrea Powell, a 44-year-old resident of East Long Beach.   

Through their preliminary investigation, including statements provided from witnesses, detectives learned a male adult observed a female adult (Powell) attacking another woman. The female victim was calling for help and the man armed himself with a handgun; evidence indicates the man was armed due to the prior suspicious activity in front of his residence. The man is believed to have fired his weapon when subject Powell began charging toward him.  

Officers recovered the firearm at the scene and the male was detained and interviewed by detectives.  

At this time, and based on the totality of circumstances related to this incident, detectives gathered evidence, completed field interviews, and released the male detainee pending further investigation. This case will be presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. 

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is urged to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Leticia Gamboa and Oscar Valenzuela 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 smartphone (available at the Apple app store or Google Play), or by visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.