Maxwell Lawrence Fromm, 72, was fatally shot on July 10, 2024, around 12:30 p.m. in downtown Long Beach on East First Street between Lime and Alamitos avenues. Officers found Fromm on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body; he was pronounced dead at the scene after life-saving efforts.

A 64-year-old neighbor, John Higginbotham, was arrested nearby shortly after the shooting and booked into the Long Beach City Jail on suspicion of murder with bail set at $2 million. Investigators reported the two men knew each other; during questioning Higginbotham alleged he believed Fromm had been breaking into his apartment and poisoning his food, but authorities have not confirmed those claims and the motive remains under investigation.

Fromm, a U.S. Navy veteran originally from Springfield, Minnesota, had lived in Long Beach after his military service and was involved in the restaurant industry and community activities such as beach clean-ups. If anyone has information about this shooting or knew Maxwell Fromm, please share what you know with investigators.