Long Beach
Police Department

UPDATE PUBLISHED 4/22/2022 at 4:00 PM

From April 15-21, 2022, the Long Beach Police Department conducted a multi-day arrest operation, which included serving multiple search warrants across four separate locations in Long Beach, resulting in the arrests of three suspects in connection with the March 29, 2022, murder in the 400 block of South Street.

Through their efforts, detectives identified and arrested the following:

• Julian Richard Maldonado, a 20-year-old resident of Long Beach, was arrested on April 15, 2022, near the area of Market Street and Atlantic Avenue. He was booked for one count of murder and his bail was set at $2,000,000. On April 19, 2022, detectives presented their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.
• Ronald Maldonado, a 25-year-old resident of Long Beach, was arrested on April 15, 2022, near the 400 block of East 57th Street. He was booked for one count of murder and his bail was set at $2,000,000. On April 19, 2022, detectives presented their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.
• Myrna Palay, a 29-year-old resident of Long Beach was arrested on April 21, 2022, near the 200 Block of Hullet Street. She was booked for one count of murder and her bail was set at $2,000,000. Her case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office later next week for filing consideration.

The victim has been identified as Larry Jefferson, a 24-year-old resident of the City of Inglewood.

Through their investigation, detectives determined the victim entered a business when he was approached by the suspects. Both parties entered into a verbal dispute that escalated when the suspects initiated a physical assault on the victim. The victim fled the location and was chased by the suspects when one of the suspects produced a firearm, fatally shot the victim, and all suspects fled the scene.

While the motive remains under investigation, detectives believe the suspects and victim were not known to each other, and the motive is gang-related.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Homicide Detectives Sean Magee or Juan Carlos Reyes (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 RELEASE PUBLISHED 3/29/2022 

CORRECTION 3/29/22 AT 12:00 PM: The victim is being identified as an adult male in his 20s, not 40s as previously reported, and has been corrected in bold below. 

On March 29, 2022, at approximately 12:44 a.m., officers responded to the 400 block of South Street regarding a person down in the street with a gunshot wound, which resulted in the death of a male adult.

Upon arrival, officers located a male adult victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Officers began rendering life-saving measures until Long Beach Fire Department personnel arrived and transported the victim to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Homicide Detectives responded to the scene to investigate the incident. The preliminary investigation revealed the suspect(s) approached the victim and got into a verbal dispute. That dispute led to a physical fight, which escalated into a shooting. At this time, no suspect information is available, and the motive for the shooting is believed to be gang-related.

The Department of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner will work to positively identify the victim and notify the next of kin. At this time, the victim is only being identified as an adult male in his 20s.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Homicide Detectives Sean Magee or Juan Carlos Reyes (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.