Soktear Phuy, a 33-year-old resident of Long Beach, California, tragically lost his life on June 29, 2020. Phuy was shot near 1407 Rose Avenue in Long Beach. Upon arrival, officers found him lying in the courtyard of an apartment complex with gunshot wounds to his upper torso. Despite bystanders' attempts to provide life-saving measures and the efforts of paramedics who transported him to a local hospital, Phuy succumbed to his injuries.
The incident was immediately classified as a homicide, and the Long Beach Police Department launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The investigation revealed that the shooting was gang-related, and detectives from the Long Beach Police Department's Gang Detail collaborated with homicide detectives to identify and apprehend the suspects involved. On July 3 and July 5, 2020, three suspects were arrested in connection with Phuy's murder. Juan Lopez, a 20-year-old resident of Long Beach, was arrested near his residence and charged with one count of murder. Ricardo Frias, also 20 years old and a resident of Long Beach, was arrested and charged with one count of murder and one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Brandon Garcia, a 23-year-old resident of Hawaiian Gardens, was arrested and charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Further developments in the case occurred on July 22, 2020, when Maria Urieta, a 23-year-old resident of Long Beach, was arrested. Detectives believed that Urieta was aware of the murder and had provided aid to Juan Lopez to protect him from trial, conviction, or sentencing. The arrests of these individuals marked significant progress in the investigation, and the Long Beach Police Department continued to work diligently to bring all involved suspects to justice.
The suspects faced multiple charges, including murder and attempted murder, and were held at the Long Beach City jail with substantial bail amounts. The case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for filing consideration, and the legal proceedings against the suspects began. The exact motive for the shooting remained unclear, but the gang-related nature of the incident was a focal point of the investigation. The tragic death of Soktear Phuy highlighted the ongoing issue of gang violence in the area and underscored the efforts of law enforcement to address and mitigate such crimes.
