Ray Cash, 53, was found shot to death on the night of December 8, 2021, on the sidewalk in the 1600 block of Pacific Avenue in Long Beach. Officers and the Long Beach Fire Department responded around 11:50 p.m.; despite medical aid, Cash was pronounced dead at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. The Long Beach Police Department opened a homicide investigation and stated detectives are exploring a possible gang-related motive.

Cash had previously sued the city of Long Beach in 2018, alleging excessive force by officer Salvador Alatorre after a domestic dispute call; Cash said Alatorre drew his gun, slammed him to the ground, and struck him with a Maglite. Cash was arrested then but never charged. That lawsuit was settled in June 2020; Alatorre was suspended for 120 days in May 2019 and was later dismissed from the department after further complaints.

The motive for the December 8 shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Long Beach Police Department.