Johnny Akins

Johnny Akins was a 49-year-old Black man from Long Beach, California, described by those who knew him as a wonderful man with a huge heart. A social worker and volunteer who helped veterans, he was remembered as a "gentle giant" who was well-liked and respected in his community.

In the early hours of Thursday, August 22, 2019, an officer on patrol noticed a crowd gathered on a sidewalk in the 1500 block of West Pacific Coast Highway. When the officer stopped to investigate, a witness said a man had been shot. Inside a nearby establishment, police found Johnny Akins with gunshot wounds to his upper and lower torso. Officers performed first aid until paramedics arrived and transported him to a local hospital. Though his injuries were initially believed to be non-life-threatening, Mr. Akins died the following day, on August 23, 2019.

Homicide detectives determined that the shooting took place inside an illegal gambling operation. Investigators found evidence of the shooting and several illegal gambling machines at the location. The crowd had dispersed as officers arrived, and witnesses were uncooperative. The investigation later revealed that just before the shooting, Mr. Akins and another man had been arguing about their involvement in the illegal gambling establishment.

Through their investigation, detectives identified 31-year-old Richard Allen Quintana of Long Beach as the suspect. They tracked him to Glendale, Arizona, where he was taken into custody with the assistance of local police on a pre-existing warrant. Quintana was extradited to Long Beach on September 19, 2019, and booked on suspicion of murder.

Detectives also arrested a second person, 35-year-old Nancy Interiano of Long Beach, on October 1, 2019. Investigators believe Interiano knew about Quintana’s involvement in the shooting and helped him flee to Arizona in an effort to evade arrest. She was booked on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact.

Richard Quintana was charged with murder, and Nancy Interiano was charged as an accessory after the fact. As of October 2019, both suspects were in custody awaiting court proceedings.