Dwight Neals, a 31-year-old resident of Long Beach, California, tragically lost his life on February 16, 2021. On that evening, officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Olive Avenue following a report of a male in need of medical attention inside a residence. Upon arrival, they discovered Dwight Neals suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper torso.
Despite the immediate life-saving measures taken by the officers and the medical aid provided by the Long Beach Fire Department, Neals was pronounced dead at the scene. The initial investigation suggested that the shooting occurred within the residence, but the motive behind the incident remained unclear at that time.
The investigation quickly led to the identification and arrest of two suspects. On February 18, 2021, officers arrested Peter Hairston, a 44-year-old resident of Long Beach, who was found banging on the front doors of residences in the 1000 block of Gaviota Avenue. Hairston was identified as a suspect in the murder of Dwight Neals and was subsequently booked for murder, with bail set at $2,000,000. The following day, detectives arrested Alexus Belgrove, a 22-year-old resident of Long Beach, who was believed to have actively participated in the shooting and assisted Hairston. Belgrove was booked for accessory to commit murder and held on $1,000,000 bail.
The relationship between the suspects and the victim was established, although the exact motive for the shooting remained unknown. The case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration. The Long Beach Police Department continued to urge anyone with additional information regarding the incident to come forward to aid in the ongoing investigation. This tragic event highlighted the swift actions of law enforcement in apprehending the suspects and the community's role in providing crucial information to solve the case.
