Couple shot; gangs suspected in attack

By Press-Telegram staff reports

Long Beach
A couple were shot after getting into an argument early Thursday with a group of men, believed to be gang members.

Both the Long Beach man and woman — who are 36 and 43, respectively — had gunshot wounds to the legs, but were expected to survive the 2:27 a.m. attack in the 1500 block of Cedar Avenue, said Officer Greg Schirmer, a Long Beach Police Department spokesman.

Gang investigators were investigating, and anyone with information was asked to call (562) 570-7370.

Man wounded in shooting

A 32-year-old Long Beach man was shot shortly after midnight Thursday in the 1400 block of West 19th Street after an argument, police said.

The man was hit in the buttocks, said Officer Greg Schirmer, a Long Beach Police Department spokesman.

Gang detectives were investigating. Anyone with information was asked to call (562) 570-7370.

Pair arrested at downtown hotel

An eagle-eyed hotel employee helped police capture two alleged criminals, one of whom was wanted by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Departments for a murder, police said Thursday.

Officers were called to the Westin Hotel, 333 E. Ocean Blvd., at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday after a hotel employee became suspicious of a couple staying in one of the rooms.

Police were told that it appeared as the woman in the room, a 29-year-old from Long Beach, was using a stolen credit card. When they contacted her and a 20-year-old Carson man, they found evidence of stolen credit cards, fraudulent checks, drugs and a weapon, said Officer Greg Schirmer, a Long Beach Police Department spokesman.

The woman was booked on multiple charges, including commercial burglary. The 20-year-old, who had a murder warrant issued for his arrest by LASD, was booked on that charge as well as drug and weapons charges.

Three held in downtown robberies

Three people were arrested Thursday afternoon in connection with a series of robberies in the downtown area, police said Thursday.

Officers were following up on a robbery investigation involving two businesses, a dry cleaners and a video store, and two victims on the street when they arrested a Long Beach man and two local teens in the Willmore area where the crimes occurred, said Officer Israel Ramirez.

Weapons were used in three of the four robberies, and included handguns and a large knife. In the fourth case, the robbers assaulted the victim.