On November 26, 2023, at about 2:18 a.m., 41-year-old Long Beach resident Andre McClendon was shot in the upper body near the 1700 block of Pine Avenue. Police say several male suspects approached him and opened fire; McClendon died at the scene despite medical aid from responding officers and Long Beach Fire Department personnel.

Following an investigation, search warrants were executed on March 7, 2024, in Long Beach, Compton, and Lancaster that resulted in the arrest of five people. Jose Ramos, 20, Adonis Reese, 18, and Joshua Spencer-Morgan, 20, were booked on murder charges with bail set at $2 million each. Emily Castaneda, 20, and Angelica Esquivel, 24, were booked as accessories to murder and arson with bail set at $50,000 each. Detectives say the motive appears to be gang-related and the case was being prepared for filing with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Homicide Detectives Oscar Valenzuela or Leticia Gamboa at (562) 570-7244 or submit an anonymous tip to LA Crime Stoppers.