Long Beach
Police Department

On June 10, 2020, at approximately 9:50 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 6800 block of Harbor Avenue to assist the Long Beach Fire Department with a medical emergency involving a six-month-old infant in full arrest, which resulted in his death.

Paramedics transported the infant to a local hospital and due to the suspicious circumstances, Long Beach Police Department Child Abuse Detectives responded and conducted an investigation.

On June 12, 2020, the infant, identified as six-month-old Zeke Soriano, succumbed to his injuries. The Coroner’s Office investigation ultimately revealed infant Soriano suffered non-accidental trauma at hands of another to the upper torso. Due to the Coroner's determination and the suspicious circumstances observed on the day of the incident, Homicide Detectives in conjunction with Child Abuse Detectives began investigating the incident as a murder.

On September 29, 2020, detectives arrested Manuel Torres, a 26-year-old resident of Long Beach, and the infant’s relative. Torres was arrested near his residence, he was booked for murder, and is currently being held on $2,000,000 bail in the Long Beach City Jail.

Detectives anticipate presenting the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office later this week for filing consideration.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Long Beach Police Department Homicide Detectives Sean Magee, Adrian Garcia, or Child Abuse Detective Nikki Alexander at (562) 570-7244. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org.