On August 18, 2024, at approximately 6:58 a.m., Long Beach police officers responded to a call in the 600 block of East South Street, where they found 43-year-old Ali Jabbaar Phannix unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Phannix, who was experiencing homelessness, was pronounced dead at the scene by Long Beach Fire Department personnel.
Following a two-month investigation, detectives identified Hector Perez, a 32-year-old resident of Lynwood, as the suspect in Phannix's murder. On October 28, 2024, authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Perez, who was already in custody on unrelated charges with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He was subsequently rebooked on suspicion of murder, with bail set at $2.05 million.
Investigators believe that Phannix and Perez were acquaintances, though the motive for the shooting remains under investigation. The Long Beach Police Department has expressed gratitude to community members who provided leads that assisted in the investigation. They continue to encourage anyone with additional information to come forward.
