Long Beach
Police Department

Media Relations
400 W. Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 570-5273
1/3/2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release #
Subject:
*UPDATE* MURDER - 900 BLOCK OF ELM STREET
Contact:
Media Relations Detail
(562) 570-5273






UPDATE:

After follow-up investigation, homicide detectives, with the assistance of patrol officers, made two arrests in this case and charges have been filed.

On December 31, 2017, at approx. 7:00 p.m., 87-year-old Ernest Weston and 58-year-old James Pettie, both of Long Beach, were arrested in the 400 block of E. 5th Street, for the murder of 45-year-old Todd Dunlap of Long Beach.  The victim and suspects were known to one another and had become involved in a dispute prior to the murder.

Today, January 3, 2018, Homicide detectives presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, and the following charges were filed:

Name:                         Charges:                                                        Bail:
Ernest Weston            (1) count murder                                             $2,000,000                                                                            (1) count possess of dangerous weapon

James Pettie               (1) count accessory to murder                        $2,000,000

Both defendants are being held at the L.A. County Jail.



ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE - 12/31/17

On Sunday, December 31, 2017, at approx. 6:15 a.m., officers responded to the 900 block of Elm Street in regards to a person down call, which resulted in the death of a male adult.

When officers arrived, they located the male subject in the alley who had sustained a head injury. The subject, who appeared to be homeless, was determined deceased at the scene by Long Beach Fire Department paramedics.

The preliminary investigation determined the victim may have been struck by a blunt object. A motive for the incident is unknown and no suspect information is available. The investigation remains ongoing.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office will determine the victim’s identity and official cause of death.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Donald Goodman and Mark Mattia at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to your smart phone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.