Johnny Santos was a 32-year-old father of two and a City of Long Beach Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department employee since 2021. In the early hours of February 18, 2024, Santos was with his girlfriend in Belmont Shore when an altercation that began inside Dogz Bar and Grill spilled outside to the 5300 block of East 2nd Street. Video and testimony presented later say a man who had been punched walked away, returned, lifted his arm and fired a single shot that struck Santos in the abdomen. He was taken to a hospital and died of his injuries.

Long Beach detectives identified 24-year-old Christopher Rene Salguero of San Pedro as the primary suspect. On February 19 a search warrant was executed at his home and he was arrested and booked on suspicion of murder and discharging a firearm resulting in great bodily injury. The Los Angeles County District Attorney charged him with one count of murder on February 22, 2024, with an allegation of great violence and cruelty; bail was later reduced from $3.025 million to $2 million. At a preliminary hearing on February 26, 2025, a judge denied a defense motion to dismiss or reduce the charge and ordered Salguero to stand trial on murder.

Anyone who was in Belmont Shore that night or who has information about the shooting is asked to come forward.