On November 22, 2024, at approximately 11:42 a.m., 21-year-old Justice Lopez was found fatally shot inside her residence in the 900 block of Gaviota Avenue in Long Beach, California. Officers arrived to find Lopez suffering from a gunshot wound to her upper body. Despite immediate medical attention and transport to a local hospital, she was pronounced dead. The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) initiated a homicide investigation, noting that the attack was not believed to be random.
Through their investigation, homicide detectives identified a 17-year-old male resident of Long Beach as the suspect. The suspect was an ex-boyfriend of the victim. On November 26, 2024, he was arrested in the 6100 block of Orange Avenue on two unrelated no-bail warrants. Following his arrest, detectives processed evidence and pursued leads, which led to the identification of the 17-year-old as the suspect in Lopez's murder. On December 2, 2024, detectives presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
The community has been left in shock by this tragic event, as Lopez was a young woman with a promising future. Her untimely death has raised concerns about domestic violence and the safety of women in the area. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Homicide Detectives Oscar Valenzuela or Michael Hubbard at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips can be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the "P3 Tips" app, or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
