One dead, one wounded in double shooting downtown

On Saturday, at 1:20 a.m., LBPD officers assigned to the Downtown Entertainment District heard gunshots nearby 200 Block of North Pine Avenue. They located two victims, which later resulted in the death of a male adult.

Officers immediately observed a crowd gathering around a male adult laying on the sidewalk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso. A person identified as an off-duty nurse rendered aid to the victim until Long Beach Fire personnel arrived and transported the victim to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The decedent has been identified as 36-year-old Javante Fearence of Long Beach.

Officers also located a second male adult victim suffering from a single gunshot wound to the upper torso. The second victim was transported by Long Beach Fire personnel to a local hospital, where he was treated and released.

Based on the preliminary investigation, detectives believe the suspect, a male adult, and the victim were involved in a verbal dispute when the suspect produced a firearm and shot the victim. The suspect fled on foot northbound on Pine Avenue. The second shooting victim is believed to have been an unintended target. The murder is being investigated as possibly gang-related.

Our Department will continue to utilize our investigative and patrol resources, plus all available technology to bring the person responsible for this crime to justice. Detectives are reviewing video footage evidence in the area in the hope of identifying the suspect. 

In an abundance of caution, the Police Department will continue to have increased staffing in and around our downtown entertainment areas.

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is urged to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Adrian Garcia and Sean Magee 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 visitingwww.lacrimestoppers.org