Family members and friends seeking answers and solace descended Monday on a homeless encampment where five people were shot to death over the weekend, and police hoped an anonymous caller would come forward and say more.
"There is still a demon out there killing innocent people," said Don Morgan, 58, who said he was friends with the victims but wasn't homeless himself. "Satan was here that day."
Officers responding to an anonymous call at about 8:30 a.m. Sunday found three men and two women in a makeshift camp in a rugged brush-covered, debris-filled area between commercial buildings near the Santa Fe Avenue offramp of the San Diego (405) Freeway, close to West Wardlow Road and the 405 interchange with the Long Beach (710) Freeway, said Long Beach police Sgt. Dina Zapalski.
"There's two female adults and three male adults," said Assistant Chief Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. "All of the deceased appeared to have been shot, and we are conducting an investigation into their identity. We do have some bits and pieces of information we're trying to link together as far as their identity and to notify next of kin."
"There's two female adults and three male adults," said Assistant Chief Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. "All of the deceased appeared to have been shot, and we are conducting an investigation into their identity. We do have some bits and pieces of information we're trying to link together as far as their identity and to notify next of kin."
Winter said some of the victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Police appealed for the male caller who contacted authorities Sunday morning to come forward.
Long Beach police identified all five victims. The names of only two people were released because authorities have yet to notify relatives.
"We're still trying to find out who (the caller) was. We would love for them to come forward. We believe they have more information than what they gave us," said Long Beach Deputy Chief Robert Luna.
"We really need the public's help in gaining any information," he added. "If anybody was in this general area (Saturday night or Sunday morning) and they heard anything, they saw anything, it's absolutely critical that they call the Long Beach Police Department."
News
Top news of the day
Residents living in nearby apartment buildings reported hearing shouting and several gunshots early Sunday morning, and several said they suspected drugs were involved in the slayings.
So many shots were fired, "it sounded like fireworks," Leticia Walker told the Los Angeles Times, adding that she was in her apartment about 12:15 a.m. when she heard the noise. Another resident, Tippi Briggs, told the newspaper that about the same time, she heard a woman scream and then a man shout, "Get in the car! Get in the car! Let's go!"
Police did not immediately determine if drugs played a part in the shooting, but several residents said the area is often the scene of drug activity.
"It be so many people back there, from drug dealers to homeless. There would be big nice cars in there daily," Arnessa McIntosh told the Press-Telegram. "There's not just homeless, not just blacks and not just white, smoking and selling drugs back in there."
Luna said in remarks reported by the Press-Telegram that his department handles most homeless cases along the Los Angeles River and officers are not very familiar with the homeless encampment where the slayings occurred because the area, which is state-owned, falls under California Highway Patrol jurisdiction. Both agencies will be participating in the investigation.
