Johnny Akins, a 49-year-old resident of Long Beach, California, tragically lost his life on August 22, 2019. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when an officer on routine patrol noticed a crowd gathered on the sidewalk in the 1500 block of West Pacific Coast Highway. Upon investigation, the officer discovered Akins with gunshot wounds to his upper and lower torso.
Despite immediate life-saving efforts by the officers and subsequent medical attention from the Long Beach Fire Department, Akins succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital the following day.
The investigation revealed that Akins was inside an illegal gambling establishment at the time of the shooting. The establishment, located on West Pacific Coast Highway, was found to contain several illegal gambling machines and evidence of the shooting. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and witnesses at the scene were uncooperative, dispersing as officers arrived.
Through their investigation, Long Beach Police Department Homicide Detectives identified 31-year-old Richard Quintana as a suspect in the murder of Johnny Akins. Quintana was located in Arizona and apprehended with the assistance of the Glendale, Arizona Police Department. He was taken into custody on a pre-existing Post Release Community Supervision (P.R.C.S.) violation warrant and later extradited to Long Beach, where he was booked for murder and other unrelated warrants. Quintana is being held on a substantial bail amount.
Additionally, detectives arrested 35-year-old Nancy Interiano, who was believed to have knowledge of Quintana's involvement in the shooting. Interiano allegedly assisted Quintana in evading arrest by traveling with him to Arizona. She was apprehended while leaving a business in Long Beach and has been charged as an accessory after the fact. Interiano is currently held in the Long Beach City Jail on a significant bail amount.
The case remains under active investigation by the Long Beach Police Department, with detectives continuing to gather information and seek out additional witnesses. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's office is also involved in determining the precise cause of death. The tragic death of Johnny Akins highlights the ongoing issues related to illegal gambling operations and the violence that can ensue within such environments.
