Three men have been arrested in connection with a July catalytic converter theft and shooting in Long Beach that left a 43-year-old man wounded, police announced Thursday.
The shooting occurred about 4:18 a.m. July 28 in the 4600 block of East Goldfield Avenue, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
Officers responding to the location found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound, police said. Long Beach Fire Department personnel took him to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Investigators determined the victim had confronted three men during an alleged catalytic converter theft and one of the suspects shot him, police said. The suspects fled the area.
Gang Detail detectives subsequently identified the suspects as Jose Delgado, 23, and Luis Palma, 18, both of Los Angeles, and Adrian Martinez, 18, of San Pedro, police said.
Delgado was arrested Sept. 8 by Long Beach police in Los Angeles, while Martinez was arrested Sept. 10 in San Pedro, according to the department.
Palma was already in the custody of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on unrelated charges, and a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with the Long Beach case, police said.
Detectives also determined the suspects were wanted in connection with similar incidents in nearby jurisdictions and worked with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Alhambra Police Department during the investigation, according to the LBPD.
The case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting was urged to contact LBPD Gang Detail detectives at 562-570-7370. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).