A man suspected of fatally shooting a 72-year-old man in Long Beach earlier this month was behind bars Friday.
William Altpeter, 38, of Idyllwild, was arrested Thursday by Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics personnel, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
He is suspected in the fatal shooting that was reported around 8:20 p.m. Nov. 1 in the 4700 block of Greenmeadow Road.
According to police, officers responded to the location on a report of a possible suicide and found an unresponsive man with a gunshot wound, apparently self-inflicted, to the upper body. Long Beach Fire Department personnel attempted life-saving measures but pronounced the man dead at the scene.
His name was withheld, pending notification of relatives.
Upon further investigation, however, homicide detectives and the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner determined that the wound was not self-inflicted but was a homicide.
It was unclear what led investigators to Altpeter, but police said he was acquainted with the victim. No information was released about a possible motive.
Following his arrest Thursday, Altpeter was transported to the Long Beach City Jail, where he was booked on suspicion of murder and held on $3 million bail.
Anyone with information regarding the fatal shooting was urged to contact LBPD detectives Eric Thai or Kelsey Myers at 562-570-7244. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or lacrimestoppers.org.