Carina Mancera, a 26-year-old Latina, tragically lost her life on August 6, 2016, in Long Beach, California. She was walking home from the grocery store with her boyfriend, Luis Anaya, and their 4-year-old daughter, Jennabel Anaya, when a man approached them and began shooting. The incident occurred around 10:20 p.m. at the intersection of East 9th Street and Locust Avenue.
Carina was pronounced dead at the scene, while Jennabel was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead shortly after midnight. Luis Anaya managed to escape unharmed. The shooter fled on foot, and the motive for the attack was initially unclear, leaving the community in shock and mourning.
The investigation into the double murder was intense and thorough. Long Beach Police Department detectives worked diligently to gather evidence and pursue leads. On November 6, 2016, Brandon Ivan Colbert, a 22-year-old from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was arrested in connection with the murders. Colbert had been previously arrested on August 27, 2016, for driving a stolen vehicle, and DNA evidence from that arrest linked him to the crime scene. Colbert was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, with special circumstance enhancements for lying in wait and multiple victims.
The trial of Brandon Colbert took place in Long Beach Superior Court, where he was found guilty on all counts on January 26, 2018. The court heard harrowing details of the attack, including how Colbert had hidden behind a sign and opened fire on the family without any provocation. During the trial, Colbert acted as his own attorney. The jury found him guilty of the murders of Carina Mancera and Jennabel Anaya, as well as the attempted murder of Luis Anaya. Colbert was sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, along with an additional life term for the attempted murder and 75 years to life for personally discharging a firearm.
The conviction and sentencing of Brandon Colbert brought some measure of justice and closure to the grieving family and community. The case highlighted the relentless efforts of the Long Beach Police Department and the importance of forensic evidence in solving violent crimes. Despite the tragic loss of Carina and Jennabel, the resolution of the case provided a sense of relief and a step towards healing for those affected by this senseless act of violence.
