The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $25,000 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of the man who kidnapped and killed a 3-week-old girl after shooting and wounding her parents and uncle in North Long Beach.
Supervisor Don Knabe recommended the reward and said detectives had few leads.
“The father of 3-week-old Eliza Delacruz had just arrived home from work,” Knabe said. “He sat down on the edge of his bed and watched his girlfriend feed their newborn baby. Without warning, a male suspect entered the room and started shooting.”
The body of Eliza Delacruz was found Sunday afternoon in a trash bin at a commercial strip mall in the 600 block of Palm Drive in Imperial Beach, according to Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman Marlene Arrona. San Diego County authorities said the body was found shortly before 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Long Beach police were notified of the discovery around 4:30 p.m., she said.
“We really, really need your help in helping us catch this coward, get him off the streets,” Long Beach police Chief Robert Luna said Monday. “We don’t want this person out, potentially committing another crime just like this.”
Detectives traveled to San Diego to confer with authorities and the San Diego Medical Examiner confirmed the deceased infant was the one who had been kidnapped.
Officers found the shooting victims after being dispatched in response to reports of gunfire about 5:50 p.m. Saturday, Arrona said. Investigators said they believe the gunman took the 10-pound infant from the home in the 100 block of West 51st Street after the shooting.
The girl’s father was treated and released, but the mother and uncle were hospitalized in critical condition.
The gunman was described only as having dark skin. Police have said they do not believe the attack was a random act, but they also said there is no known motive for the attack.
Luna said police were aggressively investigating, and hope to get a sketch of the suspect, but he said he believes somebody in the densely populated area must have seen something.
“Somebody somewhere saw what happened, and we need you to come forward,” he said. “And please remember, as we stand here as police officers, unfortunately we deal with tragedies, but nothing as horrendous as a child, a baby for that fact, being taken from her home and then being left in the trash dumpster. We really, really need your help.”
He said even the smallest piece of information could lead to the suspect.
“If anything looked out of place or anything that just causes somebody to think this person may have been involved — maybe it was a getaway car … anything,” he said. “We need to start somewhere. Any small piece of information could be that part of the puzzle that we need to solve this case.”
Knabe urged anyone with more information about the case to call Long Beach homicide detectives Donald Goodman and Mark Mattia at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips can be provided by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS. Tips can also be sent via text message by sending “Tipla” plus the information to 274677. Information can also be provided at www.lacrimestoppers.org.
“Everyone out there, know that you can and will be anonymous,” Knabe said.
—City News Service