Homeless man shot and killed in Long Beach

On Sunday arounf 8:10 p.m., Long Beach police officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of East 68th Street regarding a reported shooting victim adjacent to the freeway, which resulted in the death of a male adult.

Responding officers located the victim in a homeless encampment adjacent to the westbound traffic lanes of the 91 freeway. The victim was non-responsive, and officers immediately began performing life saving measures. The Long Beach Fire Department responded and determined the victim deceased at the scene.

The preliminary investigation revealed the victim resided at the encampment and was shot multiple times in the upper torso. Witnesses at the scene described two or more male suspects fleeing the scene on-foot toward Cherry Avenue. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, although it is being investigated as gang-related.

The victim has been identified as 64-year-old Samuel Villalba of Long Beach.

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is urged to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Donald Collier or Leticia Gamboa 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.