UPDATE: Suspect Jailed in Videotaped LB Liquor Store Murder

Updates with reaction from the business community and update on the reward.

A man suspected of killing a Long Beachduring a a Jan. 22 holdup--caught on videotape (see right)--has been in Riverside County Jail since March, Long Beach police said Wednesday.

Two men can be seen confronting Sor Phouma at the counter of P&B Liquor Jr. Market in the store's surveillance video, which police released in late January to seek public help in identifying the pair. That tape does not show the clerk being shot but it's chilling just knowing that he will be fatally shot moments later.

The second suspect has not been named nor captured, Long Beach Police Department said Wednesday.

Edgar Vasquez, 31 of Perris, had been in the Riverside County Jail on another charge when an anonymous tip in March led police to believe he'd been involved in the liquor store murder, said department spokeswoman Nancy Pratt.Vasquez was one of two men allegedly shown in the holdup video but his arrest was not revealed until Wednesday in hopes that his accomplice might be caught, the department said. Given that Vasquez was in custody for more than half a year, it was not clear from the release why Wednesday for the announcement?

Phouma, 53, described as an agreeable and longtime employee, was shot about 8 p.m. that Saturday night in the store at 1953 E. Fourth St., just outside of Belmont Heights. The neighorhood and business organization for the commercial district were stunned by the robbery-homicide, as were others who live nearby. The robbery was caught on the store's surveillance video camera, which helped the police--and perhaps the tipster--in identifying their suspect.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors offered a $10,000 reward for tips leading to the killer, which apparently helped generate tips. Vasquez was locked up in Riverside on suspicion of robbery and gun- related crimes.

A leader in the Fourth Street Business Association said Thursday that the members were outraged by the murder and felt compelled to act.

"Fourth Street is relieved that a suspect for this horrendous and senseless crime is in custody," said Kerstin Kansteiner,owner of Portfolio Coffeehouse, 2300 E. Fourth Street. "Sor Phouam was a well-liked member of our business community. We hope that the arrest may give his family a sense of closure."

The business assn. sought donations to add to the reward for any leads in the case, she said. "We are currently working with the LBPD to release the funds collected from the business community as a reward for the capture of the shooter....Last I checked we raised close to $1000 and the 4th Street Business Association is going to match that amount."

Police spokeswoman Pratt said she did not know why the suspect had been in jail so long, whether he was convicted of a crime and was serving that sentence or awaiting trial in another case.

Anyone with more information about the name or whereabouts of Vasquez's accomplice was asked to call detectives David Rios or Roger Zottneck at (562) 570-7244.

Penny Minual, the owner of P & B Liquor Jr. Market, was said to out of town and could not be reached for comment. 

"We received an anonymous tip, this person advised us that they believed that one of the suspects was in custody in Riverside — it was in fact the suspect we were looking for," said Nancy Pratt, public information officer. "He was in custody on unrelated robbery and firearm charges. Through surveillance video and our ongoing investigation we were able to determine this was actually the suspect that we were looking for."

Anyone with more information about the name or whereabouts of Vasquez's accomplice was asked to call detectives David Rios or Roger Zottneck at (562) 570-7244.