A 66-year-old homeless man was arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing in downtown Long Beach earlier this month.
Investigators with the Long Beach Police Department said in a news release that the deadly encounter occurred around 5 a.m. on April 1 in the 400 block of North Pacific Avenue, near East 4th Street.
Both police and medical personnel with the Long Beach Fire Department responded to the scene and located the victim, now identified as 72-year-old South Gate resident James Plummer, suffering from a life-threatening stab wound.
Paramedics administered aid and rushed him to the hospital.
A 66-year-old homeless man was arrested for the fatal stabbing of a 72-year-old man in downtown Long Beach on April 1, 2026. (Google Maps)
The suspect in the stabbing, Cary Odell Singletary, fled the scene before first responders arrived.
Members of LBPD’s Violent Crimes and Homicide divisions assumed the investigation and were able to identify and locate Singletary the following day in the 100 block of North Pacific Avenue, just three blocks from the scene of the fatal stabbing, officials said.
A 66-year-old homeless man was arrested for the fatal stabbing of a 72-year-old man in downtown Long Beach on April 1, 2026. (Google Maps)
He was taken into custody and booked for attempted murder, with bail set at $1 million.
“Detectives believe the victim and the suspect did not previously know each other,” police officials said.
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On April 6, Plummer succumbed to his injuries and the case presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration was amended to murder the following day.
Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to contact Long Beach Police Department Detectives Eric Thai and Chasen Contreras at 562-570-7244. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.
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