LONG BEACH — Detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred June 24, in the 600 block of Roycroft Avenue.
About 12:29 a.m., the emergency communications center police dispatch began receiving numerous calls for service regarding a suspicious person on Roycroft and Quincy Avenues. A calling party reported a woman was following residents home and knocking on front doors and windows; they also reported that the woman did not live in the neighborhood. At 12:59 a.m, Dispatch received a call that a shooting had occurred and dispatched officers to a priority 1 emergency call. Officers were on scene within approximately five minutes of the dispatch.
Once on scene, officers found a female adult with a gunshot wound to her head. Officers immediately began performing life-saving measures and requested medical aid. Long Beach Fire Department personnel responded and determined her deceased at the scene.
The subject has been identified as Andrea Powell, a 44-year-old resident of East Long Beach.
LBPD reported through their preliminary investigation, including statements provided from witnesses, detectives learned a male adult allegedly observed a female adult (Powell) attacking another woman. The female victim was calling for help and the man armed himself with a handgun; evidence indicates the man was armed due to the prior suspicious activity in front of his residence. The man is believed to have fired his weapon when subject Powell began charging toward him.
Officers recovered the firearm at the scene and the male was detained and interviewed by detectives.
At this time, and based on the totality of circumstances related to this incident, detectives gathered evidence, completed field interviews, and released the male detainee pending further investigation. This case will be presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
Anyone with any information regarding the incident is urged to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Leticia Gamboa and Oscar Valenzuela at 562-570-7244 or anonymously at 800-222-8477, www.lacrimestoppers.org.