Long Beach Homicide Investigation of School Safety Officer Shooting

On Oct. 6, Manuela “Mona” Rodriguez, who was struck in the upper body in a shooting incident  Sept. 27, succumbed to her injuries. In light of this news, detectives are now investigating this matter as a homicide.

On Sep. 27, about 3 p.m Long Beach Police Department or LBPD officers responded to a call  regarding a hit shooting at Spring St. and Palo Verde Ave.

When officers arrived, they discovered a Long Beach Unified School District school safety officer discharged his firearm and struck Rodriguez in the upper body. Long Beach Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and transported her to a local hospital where she was initially listed in critical condition.

LBPD Homicide Detectives responded to the scene and investigated the incident. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office also responded to the scene.

Preliminary investigations reveal the school safety officer was driving when he observed a physical altercation between Rodriguez, who is an adult and a 15-year-old female juvenile victim occurring in the street. Investigators have determined a 20-year-old male adult and a 16-year-old male juvenile were also involved; however, their participation level remains under investigation.

When the male adult, the male juvenile, and Rodriguez attempted to flee in a 4-door gray sedan, the school safety officer approached the vehicle to prevent them from fleeing and discharged his firearm. Rodriguez was in the front passenger seat of the vehicle and was struck by gunfire.

At the time of the incident, the school security officer was employed by the Long Beach Unified School District and was not employed nor affiliated with the Long Beach Police Department nor the City of Long Beach.

The LBPD is conducting a criminal investigation of this incident and is sharing this information with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for their independent review.

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is urged to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Ethan Shear or Jose Rodriguez at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 800-222-8477.