Long Beach
Police Department

Update 1/14/22

On Jan. 13, 2022, detectives from the Special Investigations Division located and arrested two suspects involved in the Jan. 2, 2022 murder of a male adult in his 40s. The victim's identity has not yet been confirmed and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s is working on determining his identity.

Homicide detectives gathered significant evidence related to the murder and arrested Diego Martinez, a 29-year-old resident of Long Beach near the 700 block of E 7th Street and Federico Chavez, a 23-year-old resident of Long Beach near the 700 block of Atlantic Avenue. Martinez and Chavez were each booked on one count of murder and are being held in the Long Beach City Jail on $2,000,000 bail.

While the motive is still under investigation, detectives believe the victim and suspects were known to each other and were involved in a verbal dispute which escalated into a fight. That fight further escalated into a stabbing.

Detectives anticipate presenting their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office early next week for filing consideration.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Homicide Detectives Michael Hubbard or Leonel Valdez 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 1/2/2022

On Jan. 2, 2022, at approximately 3:45 a.m., officers responded to a report of a man yelling for help in an alleyway near the 700 block of Lime Avenue, which resulted in the death of a male adult.

The calling party stated they were awoken by a male voice yelling for help, and as they looked towards the direction the voice was coming from, they could see two dark figures running away. Officers arrived on scene and located a man suffering from apparent stab wounds to his upper body, who was conscious and breathing at the time. Long Beach Fire Department personnel arrived on the scene and transported the man to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.

Homicide detectives were notified and responded to investigate. At this time, Detectives are actively working with crime scene technicians to gather evidence, locate and interview witnesses, and attempt to determine a motive for the assault.

The victim's identity has not yet been confirmed; however, he is believed to be a male adult in his 40s and was possibly experiencing homelessness in the area. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office will work to determine his identity and notify the next of kin.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Homicide Detectives Michael Hubbard or Leonel Valdez 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.