Even as detectives renewed efforts to find clues and witnesses, the mayor and police chief of Long Beach appealed to the public for information regarding the sidewalk shooting attack Saturday night that killed a young mother and her 4-year-old daughter.
Mayor Robert Garcia and Chief Robert Luna traveled Monday evening to the scene, where there is a growing memorial of flowers and candles and messages written in chalk on the street. Expressing sadness and condolences, Luna said it is not yet known apparent what led to the shooting, nor who did it. Garcia described the circumstances as "very unusual."
Carina Mancera, 26, was walking home with her daughter Jennabel Anaya when both were shot at close range, according to police.
Also present but unhurt was Luis Anaya, the girl's father and Mancera's partner. He said that the family had just parked after returning from a trip to the market, and that he had gone back to the car to get a forgotten bag as Mancera and their child continued walking.
"I was still in the car when it happened. I didn't see nobody around till I heard the shots," Anaya said.
According to Anaya's account, when he ran toward the commotion, the shooter shot at him, but missed, had trouble with his shotgun, then ran away.
Police confirmed that detectives have obtained security video from a nearby building, and are now scrutinizing it. But at this point it appears the video does not contain enough by itself to solve the case, said homicide Det. Sgt. Robert Woods.
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Meeting with reporters at noon, Woods made an appeal for anyone with information to contact detectives. He expressed disappointment that so far, investigators had received only three calls from the public with potential leads.
Detectives have spoken at length with Anaya, and his account is consistent with the other information they have received, according to Woods.
"The information he's given to you that I've watched is very accurate with what he gave us, and the evidence that we have," Woods said.
Woods declined to verify a second hand account that in the security camera video, the shooter can be seen coming out of hiding in foliage as the victims approached. Woods said the evidence available now is not enough to conclude the attack was an ambush, calling it instead a "walk-up shooting."
Anaya said he has no idea why anyone would target his family.
"I don't have no enemies. She didnt have enemies," Anaya said.
Woods sees no evidence of gang involvement.
"It is who-done-it, and definitely motive on this one baffles me," he said.
According to Anaya, the shooter wore a long coat, possibly a rain coat, apparently to hide the shotgun he carried, and covered his face and head. Anaya said he did not recognize the man.
Chief Luna said investigators have yet to confirm a media report that an unidentified witness saw the shooter get into a white car. Anaya said he last saw the man on foot.
