LOS ANGELES, CA – A 45-year-old Long Beach man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman he was dating was found fatally shot early Tuesday morning, authorities said.
The Long Beach Police Department identified the suspect as Juan Antonio Cruz, 45, of Long Beach. Police identified the victim as Suzette Aparijo, 48, of Hawaiian Gardens.
Officers were called to the 1400 block of Redondo Avenue at approximately 3:06 a.m. on Aug. 11 for what police initially described as a death investigation.
When officers arrived, they found Aparijo suffering from a gunshot wound. Long Beach Fire Department personnel also responded, but she was determined to be dead at the scene.
The person responsible for the shooting was no longer at the location when officers arrived, prompting homicide detectives to begin an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Aparijo’s death.
Detectives subsequently identified Cruz as the suspected shooter, according to police. He was located the following day and taken into custody without any additional circumstances surrounding the arrest being publicly detailed.
Cruz was booked at the Long Beach City Jail on suspicion of murder. Police said his bail was set at $2 million.
Information reviewed by Street People indicates investigators determined that Cruz and Aparijo were in a dating relationship. Authorities, however, have not disclosed how long the two had been together or what happened in the period immediately preceding the shooting.
The motive also remains unknown.
Police have not released additional details explaining what investigators believe led to the fatal encounter, whether a firearm was recovered, or what evidence resulted in Cruz being identified as the suspected shooter.
Those unanswered questions remain part of the continuing homicide investigation.
The case is expected to be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration. An arrest on suspicion of murder does not itself constitute a conviction, and any formal criminal charges would be determined through the prosecutorial and court process.
The shooting marks a rapid progression from the initial discovery of Aparijo to the identification and arrest of a suspect. Officers responded early Aug. 11, homicide detectives took over the investigation, and Cruz was located and arrested the following day.
Police have not indicated that they are searching for any additional suspects in connection with Aparijo’s death.
Authorities also have not released further information about the location where the shooting occurred or whether other people were present when Aparijo was shot.
For investigators, the remaining focus includes establishing the motive and circumstances behind the killing while the case moves toward review by prosecutors.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact Long Beach homicide Detectives Thai and Contreras at 562-570-7244.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
The investigation remains ongoing.
