562.570.5273
LBPDPIO@longbeach.gov
At approximately 12:37 p.m., officers responded to the 700 block of East 1st Street regarding a report of a hit shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a male adult victim with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Officers rendered medical aid until being relieved by Long Beach Fire Department personnel. The victim was determined deceased at the scene.
Officers arrested the suspect near the crime scene.
Homicide detectives responded to the scene. The preliminary investigation indicates the victim and suspect are neighbors and known to one another. The suspect shot the victim; the motive remains under investigation.
The suspect has been identified as John Higginbotham, a 64-year-old resident of Long Beach. Higginbotham was transported to the Long Beach City Jail, where he was booked for murder. His bail was set at $2,000,000.
Detectives will present their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration later this week.
The victim’s identity is being withheld, pending the next of kin notification.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Homicide Detectives Eric Thai and Kelsey Myers at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the "P3 Tips" app to your smartphone (available at the Apple app store or Google Play), or by visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.