Victor Alford

Victor Eugene Alford Jr., a 37-year-old African-American man, was fatally shot in Long Beach, California, following a violent encounter on May 15, 2016. His death came ten days later, on May 25, 2016, after he struggled to survive a gunshot wound to his chest. What began as an ordinary Sunday afternoon ended in tragedy, leaving three children without their father and a close-knit family devastated by the loss of someone they considered a source of strength and stability.

According to family members, Victor was on his way to pick up his mother from church when the shooting occurred. At approximately 5:40 p.m., Long Beach police officers responded to reports of gunfire near the intersection of East 61st Street and Orange Avenue in North Long Beach. When officers arrived, they discovered Victor lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to his upper torso. Long Beach Fire Department personnel rushed him to a local hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition. Despite receiving medical treatment, his injuries proved fatal. He was pronounced dead at approximately 11:36 p.m. on May 25, according to Los Angeles County coroner records. His death was investigated as a homicide.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting initially remained unclear. Investigators did not immediately identify a suspect or establish a publicly confirmed motive. Police initially indicated that they did not believe the shooting was gang-related. Detectives began gathering witness statements, examining evidence from the scene, and reviewing surveillance recordings from cameras in the surrounding neighborhood. The investigation eventually revealed important information about vehicles believed to have been connected to the incident.

Witnesses reported seeing a red Mercedes-Benz and a gray Volvo SUV with Nevada license plates leaving the area immediately after the shooting. Investigators obtained surveillance footage showing vehicles matching those descriptions and released information to the public in hopes of identifying the people involved. Detectives also developed composite sketches of two individuals considered persons of interest. One was described as a woman in her twenties with light-colored skin and red hair at the time of the shooting. The other was described as a man in his early to mid-twenties with dreadlocks. Police believed identifying these individuals could help establish what happened during the fatal encounter.

For more than a year, Victor's family waited for answers while Long Beach homicide detectives continued their investigation. A significant development came in June 2017, when authorities announced that three suspects had been identified and arrested in connection with his death. On June 28, 2017, murder charges were filed against Devin Marcus Wright, 22, of Long Beach; Roosevelt Citizen, 23, of Compton; and Ellese Paschal, 25, also of Compton. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office confirmed that all three were charged in connection with the fatal shooting.

Paschal was arrested by Long Beach police detectives on June 26, 2017, in Victorville, California. Wright and Citizen were already in custody on unrelated criminal matters when investigators connected them to Victor's killing. All three were booked on murder charges and subsequently appeared in court. Authorities initially reported bail amounts of $4.04 million for Wright, $4.05 million for Citizen, and $3.09 million for Paschal.

Prosecutors also filed additional allegations and charges against the defendants. The District Attorney's Office reported that each was charged with shooting at an inhabited dwelling, while Wright faced additional firearm and gang-related allegations. Long Beach police separately identified allegations against Wright involving another shooting in Los Angeles on May 16, 2016, the day after Victor was wounded. These allegations were part of the broader criminal proceedings and should not be interpreted as proof that Victor's killing was gang-motivated. The arrests represented a major breakthrough in an investigation that had initially produced few publicly available answers.

In October 2018, Wright was sentenced to 65 years in prison following convictions in a separate human trafficking case. A jury found him guilty of multiple felony offenses, including human trafficking involving minors and an adult, criminal threats, assault, and firearm-related offenses. That prosecution involved conduct unrelated to Victor's death. At the time of Wright's sentencing, reports indicated that he and his two co-defendants were still awaiting trial in the homicide case. Although the three defendants had been formally charged with Victor's murder, the available reporting does not establish whether they were subsequently convicted, acquitted, or otherwise had their homicide charges resolved. A final verdict or sentencing outcome specifically connected to Victor's killing could not be confirmed from the available public reports.

Beyond the investigation, Victor's death left an enormous void in the lives of those who knew him. His relatives described him as a devoted father, loving son, and protective brother who consistently placed his family's needs before his own. Following the death of his father from heart problems in 2006, Victor assumed greater responsibilities within the family. When his mother, Dinah Alford, developed rheumatoid arthritis, he helped care for her and made sure she could continue attending church, assisting her with everything from choosing her clothing to preparing for Sunday services.

Faith and family were central parts of Victor's life. He was known for attending church dressed in his finest clothes, and one congregation had recognized him as its best-dressed junior usher. He also enjoyed spending weekends with his four brothers, often arranging gatherings where they could get haircuts and enjoy one another's company. His younger brother Jesse recalled that Victor had taught him essential life skills, including how to drive and manage money. His brother Marcus described feeling as though he had lost the anchor that kept him grounded.

Victor also remained deeply committed to his three children despite experiencing significant health challenges. He began suffering from heart problems in 2009, but those difficulties did not prevent him from making an effort to remain involved in their lives. His daughter Victoria remembered that whenever she needed her father, he did his best to be there, even when he was not feeling well. His relatives portrayed him as someone who found happiness in helping and providing for the people he loved.

On June 11, 2016, nearly 100 family members, friends, and fellow churchgoers gathered at St. Peter Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God on East 92nd Street in Watts to celebrate Victor's life and mourn his death. The service was filled with emotional tributes, prayers, and expressions of grief. One particularly moving moment came when his young son Caleb sang the gospel song "He's Able," inspiring mourners to rise from their seats in a powerful expression of faith and remembrance. For his family, the service was both a celebration of the life he had lived and a painful acknowledgment of the future they would face without him.

Victor Eugene Alford Jr.'s killing illustrates the lasting consequences of gun violence for families and communities. The investigation eventually led to three arrests and formal murder charges, providing his loved ones with an important measure of progress after more than a year of uncertainty. However, the available public information does not confirm the ultimate outcome of the homicide prosecution. His family continues to be left with the permanent loss of a father, son, and brother whose dedication to his loved ones defined much of his life. Victor is remembered not only for the circumstances of his violent death but also for his faith, generosity, devotion to his children, and the important role he played in holding his family together.