Sambo Chhoy, a 33-year-old Cambodian man, was shot and killed in Long Beach, California, on January 20, 2014. Officers found him around 9:55 p.m. in the 1000 block of East New York Street with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead at 10:13 p.m.; an autopsy confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest. This was the first reported homicide in Long Beach for 2014.

Detectives identified both Chhoy and 26-year-old Thearath Sam as suspected gang members, but investigators believed the motive was a personal dispute rather than gang rivalry. Sam was arrested at his Pomona residence on February 21, 2014, and on February 25 the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed murder and weapons charges. The Long Beach Police Department asked the public to provide information and to submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.

If anyone knew Sambo Chhoy or has information about the events that led to his death, please contact Long Beach homicide detectives.