Long Beach
Police Department

On August 23, 2020, at approximately 3:10 p.m., officers responded to an injury traffic collision in the parking lot of 1990 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, which resulted in the death of a male adult.

Upon arrival, officers located an adult male pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle. The Long Beach Fire Department transported the pedestrian to a local hospital with what, at the time, appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries.

The preliminary investigation revealed a 30-year-old adult male resident of the City of Lancaster was driving a 2000 Cadillac SUV when he struck a 74-year-old male pedestrian in the parking lot, causing injuries to his lower torso. The Cadillac driver left the scene before officers arrived but returned to the scene shortly after officers arrived.

On September 6, 2020, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office contacted the Collision Investigation Detail to notify them the pedestrian had passed away. On November 4, 2020, they determined the victim’s cause of death was related to the injuries he sustained from the collision.

The victim was identified as Leonard Smith, a 74-year-old resident of Long Beach.

It is not believed drugs, alcohol, or distracted driving was a factor in the collision.

Anyone with information regarding the collision are asked to contact Detective Kelsey Myers of the Long Beach Police Department Collision Investigation Detail at (562)570-7355. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may submit a tip through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the "P3 Tips" app to your smartphone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.