Maurice Dawayne Poe Jr., a 25-year-old resident of Long Beach, California, tragically lost his life on October 29, 2019. Poe was attending a Halloween-themed birthday party at a home on the 2700 block of East 7th Street in Long Beach when the incident occurred. The party, which had around 30 attendees, was abruptly disrupted when at least one gunman, dressed in dark clothing and with a concealed face, began firing into the backyard from a rear alley.
The shooting resulted in the deaths of Poe, Melvin Williams II, 35, and Ricardo Torres, 28, while nine others were injured. The victims included a diverse group of coworkers, family, and friends, ranging in age from 20 to 49.
Poe, who had a 3-year-old daughter, was described by his father as a dedicated family man with a steady job setting up display cases for an alcohol distributor. Despite his father's attempts to persuade him to move to Nebraska, Poe chose to stay in Long Beach with his longtime girlfriend. The party's host, Daniel Chan, who worked at an Inglewood casino, later moved out of the house, stating that he could no longer breathe every time he was there.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that it was one of the worst mass shootings in Long Beach's history. Joshua Sam, an ex-gang member, testified against his co-defendants, providing a detailed account of the events leading up to the shooting. According to Sam, the violence was orchestrated by Jeremy Penh, a "shot caller" for the Tiny Raskals Gang, who mistakenly believed the party was attended by a rival gang. Penh assigned roles to various gang members, with David Long, Kaylin Thik, and Ryan Sims designated as the shooters. Sam and others served as getaway drivers and lookouts.
The shooters, armed and ready, ambushed the partygoers, resulting in the tragic deaths and injuries. Following the shooting, the perpetrators fled in a dark-colored vehicle. Despite the detailed testimony and ongoing investigation, no arrests had been made as of November 2019. Both Los Angeles County and the city of Long Beach offered a $30,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The Long Beach Police Department remained committed to bringing justice to the victims and their families, emphasizing that the incident did not reflect the community's values.
