2 more arrested in deadly 2021 shooting at North Long Beach encampment, police say
Jairo Enrique Rodriguez, 25, of Los Angeles and David Toby Oropeza, 50, of Bell were allegedly involved in the shooting of Samuel Villalba, 64, in North Long Beach on Jan. 10, 2021, according to the LBPD.
Long Beach police arrested two more suspects who they believe took part in a deadly shooting at a North Long Beach encampment in 2021, police said Wednesday.
Detectives took Jairo Enrique Rodriguez, 25, of Los Angeles and David Toby Oropeza, 50, of Bell into custody on June 5 in connection with the slaying of Samuel Villalba, 64, of Long Beach on Jan. 10, 2021, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
Villalba, who lived at the encampment, was shot multiple times in the upper body, according to police. Despite efforts by Long Beach Fire Department personnel to save his life, he died at the scene, according to authorities.
The suspects, meanwhile, fled the scene toward Cherry Avenue, witnesses told police at the time.
On June 5, LBPD Special Investigations Division detectives located both men in Los Angeles, police said. Rodriguez was arrested near the 8900 block of South Central Avenue and Oropeza near the 100 block of West Bruno Street, according to the LBPD.
Each suspect was booked for one count of murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder, police said. Their bail was set at $2 million each, police added.
The LBPD has previously arrested two other suspects in connection with Villabla's slaying. Andrew Reyna, 47, of Lakewood, was arrested at a motel in Lynwood in October 2024, and Jesse Galvan, 45, of Lakewood was arrested at his home on April 3 of this year, according to the LBPD.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, though at the time of the shooting police said it appeared to be gang-related.
A gang-related crime is one committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang, according to the LBPD.
Police are asking anyone with information regarding the incident to call Homicide Detectives Oscar Valenzuela or Leticia Gamboa 562-570-7244.
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