Major Alan Langer, a 75-year-old senior managing partner at the law firm Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza, and Harrison, was tragically shot to death on December 29, 2017, in Long Beach, California. The incident occurred at the firm's office located in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood. According to reports, the shooting took place around 2:25 p.m. when Long Beach police responded to a call about a shooting at the law firm.
Upon arrival, officers found Major Langer and another man, later identified as John Alexander Mendoza, dead at the scene. Langer was pronounced dead at 3:01 p.m. by the coroner.
The investigation revealed that John Mendoza, a 58-year-old partner at the same law firm, was the shooter. Mendoza shot Major Langer and another partner, Ronald Beck, before turning the gun on himself. Beck, who was shot in the torso and lower body, was taken to the hospital and was listed in stable condition. The motive behind the shooting was reportedly related to workplace tensions, as Langer was attempting to fire Mendoza at the time of the incident. This act of workplace violence shocked the community and left the law firm and the families of the victims devastated.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the law firm issued a statement expressing their deep sorrow and condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. The firm's website was quickly updated to remove any reference to Mendoza, and the initial "M" was removed from their logo. The Long Beach Police Department conducted a thorough investigation into the incident, but since the shooter, Mendoza, had taken his own life, no further arrests were made. The case was classified as a murder-suicide, and the focus shifted to supporting the victims' families and the surviving members of the law firm.
The tragic death of Major Alan Langer highlighted the potential for violence in the workplace and the importance of addressing underlying issues before they escalate. The law firm and the community mourned the loss of a respected attorney and sought to heal from the senseless act of violence that claimed his life.
