Esmeralda Delpilar Alvarez was 17 when she was fatally shot on December 28, 2000, in Long Beach, California. The Los Angeles County coroner’s records list the location of the shooting as near 349 E. 9th Street.

Investigators reportedly faced a lack of witnesses and concrete evidence, and the case remains unsolved and classified as a cold case in the Long Beach Police Department’s files. Her family pursued legal avenues but were hampered by limited leads. The shooting is described as part of a pattern of violence that affected that area at the time and prompted calls for more resources to address cold cases.

If anyone knew Esmeralda, was in that neighborhood on December 28, 2000, or has information that could help the investigation, please come forward to Long Beach authorities.