Police arrest homeless man suspected of fatal Downtown shooting
Police say Billy Zepeda, 49, killed another unhoused man on Aug. 28.
A 49-year-old man experiencing homelessness has been arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting another homeless man in Downtown Long Beach last week, according to authorities.
Long Beach police say Billy Zepeda, 49, killed a 50-year-old man near Lincoln Park on Aug. 28.
The victim was in the 200 block of West Broadway when he was shot, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
Police said they believe Zepeda approached the victim, shot him and then quickly fled the area.
Long Beach Fire Department personnel took the victim to a local hospital where he died of his injuries, according to authorities.
The victim’s identity is being withheld while the Los Angeles County Department of the Medical Examiner works to notify the next of kin, police said.
While investigating the shooting, homicide detectives identified Zepeda as the suspect, according to police.
LBPD detectives located and arrested Zepeda on Tuesday in the area of Baltic Avenue and Willow Street, police said. During the arrest, police said they recovered a firearm in Zepeda’s possession.
Zepeda was then booked for murder, ex-felon in possession of a firearm and ex-felon in possession of ammunition, police said. His bail was set at $2 million, according to authorities.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, according to police.
Detectives will present the case later this week to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration, authorities said.
Police are asking anyone with information regarding the shooting to call LBPD Homicide Detectives Eric Thai and Chasen Contreras at 562-570-7244.
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