Long Beach
Police Department

Update 7/18/21:

On July 17, 2021 at approximately 11:23 a.m., detectives from the Special Investigations Division located and arrested Nathaniel Ford, a 45-year-old person experiencing homelessness in Long Beach.

Ford was arrested during a traffic stop in the 1400 block of Pacific Avenue after Homicide detectives collected evidence of his involvement in the July 15, 2021 shooting death of Dalila Williams.

Following the arrest, detectives responded to a residence associated with Ford in the 1700 block of E 61st Street in the City of Los Angeles where a firearm and various other evidence was collected. The firearm will be sent to the Long Beach Police Department’s Forensic Science Services Division where it will undergo ballistic testing to compare it with evidence collected at the scene of the murder.

Ford was booked on one count of murder and is being held in the Long Beach City Jail on $2,000,000 bail.

At this point in the investigation, detectives believe Williams and Ford were not known to one another when they became involved in the dispute which led to the shooting. Detectives anticipate presenting their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office early next week for filing consideration.

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is urged to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Ethan Shear and Jose Rodriguez 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.

Original News Release 7/16/21

On July 15, 2021, at approximately 11:50 p.m., officers were dispatched to a report of shots fired in the 1700 block of Pine Avenue, which later resulted in the death of a female adult.

Upon arrival, officers located a female adult victim in the street suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to the upper torso. They immediately began performing life-saving measures until Long Beach Fire Department personnel arrived on scene to render aid. The victim was transported by Long Beach Fire to a local hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries.

The victim has been identified as Dalila Williams, a 44-year-old Long Beach resident.

The preliminary investigation suggests a male adult suspect was involved in a dispute with the victim, which escalated into a shooting. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation by Homicide Detectives.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Homicide Detectives Ethan Shear or Jose Rodriguez 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.