Long Beach police say they have arrested two men in the killing of a 33‑year‑old man who was found shot inside his pickup truck early Sunday morning. The case has shaken the neighborhood and put a spotlight on violence that erupted before dawn in a normally quiet part of the city.
It happened just before 2 a.m. when officers on patrol in the 1600 block of Pacific Coast Highway heard gunshots in the distance. They headed toward the sound and spotted a white pickup truck that had smashed into a light pole and a parked car nearby.
When they got close, officers saw a man slumped in the driver’s seat. Emergency crews from the Long Beach Fire Department raced to the scene and worked on him before rushing him to a local hospital. Despite those efforts, he died from his injuries later that day. Police later identified him as David Alfaro, 33.
Detectives with the Long Beach Police Department’s homicide team began piecing together what happened. Over the next couple of days, they tracked down two suspects they believe were involved in a dispute that led to the shooting.
On Tuesday, investigators found Maliek Dontell James‑Morrow, 29, in the 1600 block of East Anaheim Street. The next day, they arrested Buon Henry Um, 29, in the 2000 block of Pacific Coast Highway. Both men live in Long Beach, were taken into custody without incident and booked on murder charges. Bail for each was set at $2 million.
Police say early findings suggest Alfaro was in his truck when the shooting happened, but authorities have not released many details about what led to the confrontation. Investigators urged anyone with more information to come forward as the case moves into the legal system.
Neighbors in the area said an increased police presence over the early morning hours alerted them to something serious unfolding. Few residents could sleep through the sirens and flashing lights, and many are still trying to make sense of what occurred in their street.
Officials reminded the public that arrests are not proof of guilt and that everyone is presumed innocent unless a court says otherwise. They thanked community members for their cooperation and said the investigation is ongoing, with updates to be shared through official channels.
