Lawrence Lee Casados, a 47-year-old resident of Los Alamitos, was tragically shot and killed on April 4, 2015, in Long Beach, California. The incident occurred at approximately 10:53 p.m. in the 2700 block of East South Street. According to reports, Casados was socializing in an alleyway when an unknown assailant approached him on foot and opened fire. The Long Beach Police Department responded to the scene and found Casados lying on the street with a gunshot wound.
Despite the efforts of the Long Beach Fire Department paramedics, Casados was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into Casados' death revealed that the shooting was a targeted attack, although the motive remained unclear initially. The Long Beach Police Department launched an extensive investigation to identify and apprehend the suspect(s) involved in the murder. On April 23, 2015, detectives made a significant breakthrough when they arrested 29-year-old Derrick Kujuan Murphy in Palmdale. Murphy was charged with murder, gang allegations, and personal use of a firearm by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
Further arrests followed in the subsequent days. On April 28, 2015, 26-year-old Murray Terry McCrea was arrested in Victorville and charged with murder, gang allegations, and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm. Additionally, 28-year-old Donte Dumount Lee was arrested in Apple Valley and charged as an accessory after the fact. The final arrest occurred on April 30, 2015, when 28-year-old Dominic Jermaine Dixon was apprehended in Compton. Dixon faced charges of murder, gang allegations, and personal use of a firearm. All four suspects were held at the Los Angeles County Jail, with bail amounts set at $2,000,000 for Murphy, McCrea, and Dixon, and $500,000 for Lee.
The arrests marked a significant development in the case, but the investigation remained ongoing as authorities continued to gather evidence and build their case against the suspects. The Long Beach Police Department urged anyone with additional information to come forward to aid in the prosecution of those responsible for Casados' death. The community's cooperation was deemed crucial in ensuring justice for Lawrence Lee Casados and his family.
