On the night of July 1, 2024, at approximately 9:51 p.m., Long Beach police officers responded to reports of a shooting near the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard and Victoria Street. Upon arrival, they discovered 39-year-old Long Beach resident, Vernont Murray, lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Officers administered immediate medical aid until Long Beach Fire Department personnel arrived and transported Murray to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his
injuries.
In the initial aftermath, the suspects had fled the scene before police arrived, and the motive for the shooting remained unclear. Homicide detectives from the Long Beach Police Department launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible. Over the following months, detectives identified two suspects: 21-year-old Damion Joseph Jr. of Palmdale and 23-year-old Eric Calvin of Lancaster.
On September 5, 2024, with assistance from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau, detectives executed search warrants in Lancaster and Palmdale. Joseph was located at a residence in Lancaster and taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the Long Beach City Jail, booked on one count of murder, and held on $2 million bail. Meanwhile, Calvin had fled the area prior to the search warrants. Through coordinated efforts with law enforcement agencies in Arizona and New Mexico, Calvin was located and arrested in New Mexico. He is currently awaiting extradition to Los Angeles County.
During the searches of the suspects' residences, detectives recovered several items of evidence pertinent to the case. The Long Beach Police Department expressed gratitude to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, New Mexico State Police, McKinley County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico, and the U.S. Department of the Interior for their assistance in apprehending Calvin. The case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for filing consideration.
The investigation into the motive and circumstances surrounding Murray's death remains ongoing. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information to contact Homicide Detectives Eric Thai or Kelsey Myers at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips can be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
