Sketches of 5 Long Beach Murder Suspects

The Long Beach Police Department has released composite drawings of five suspects in the 2009 gang-related shootings that killed one man and wounded two others.

The shooting occurred about 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2009, in the 3600 block of Santa Fe Avenue, Long Beach police spokeswoman Nancy Pratt recounted in a press statement.

Frank Castro Jr., 19, of Long Beach, died at the scene, and two other men, ages 18 and 40, were hospitalized but recovered. Neither of the survivors was named.

According to police, Castro and his two companions were walking on the street when they were approached by at least two males who exchanged words with the victims before opening fire. Witnesses said a group of males had been loitering near two cars parked on the south side of Arlington Street, east of Santa Fe Avenue, when at least two suspects left the group and confronted the victims nearby.

After the shooting, the suspects, believed to be members of a Long Beach gang, rejoined the original group and fled in two cars -- a purple four-door compact and a brown four-door compact.

Two suspects sketched from witness accounts were both described as black men about 18 to 22 years old. One was about 5-foot-10 and the other 6-foot-2, and both weighed between 160 and 180 pounds. One of the suspects had his hair in long braids and the other was wearing a black beanie. The three other suspects were also described as black men in their early 20s, of average height and build.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call homicide detectives Malcolm Evans or Todd Johnson at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips can be submitted via text or the web by visiting http://www.tipsoft.com.

--with City News Service