A Tennessee man was in custody Thursday in connection with a shootout in Long Beach between two other men — one of whom died at the scene and the other who died at a Gardena hospital after allegedly being driven there by the suspect.
Marquise Harris, 26, of Memphis was arrested on June 6 at a motel in Garden Grove, the Long Beach Police Department reported. He was booked on suspicion of weapons and drug violations, and was held on $35,000 bail.
Harris allegedly was present at the time of the shootout on June 5 at about 4:20 p.m. in the 5500 block of Atlantic Avenue, according to Long Beach police.
Kevin Williams, 32, of Lynwood died at the scene of the shooting, which occurred inside a vehicle, police said.
“The investigation revealed Devaris Watson, a 29-year-old resident of Memphis, Tennessee, Harris, and Kevin Williams engaged in a transaction involving the sale of a large quantity of marijuana for cash,” police said.
“Evidence suggests Williams and Watson disagreed over the terms of the deal and each brandished a firearm and shot at each other inside the vehicle, resulting in their death,” police said. “Harris was not injured and drove Watson to a Gardena hospital where (Watson) succumbed to his injuries.”
Detectives served search warrants at hotels in the Garden Grove and Los Angeles areas that led to the recovery of two firearms believed to be involved in the shootings, along with about two pounds of marijuana and about $15,000 in cash, police said.
“This incident was determined to be an isolated occurrence related to the illegal marijuana trade,” police said.
On Monday, the case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, which filed two counts of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle against Harris, and one count of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, Long Beach police said.