12-year-old dies after Long Beach double shooting; suspects on the run

LONG BEACH, Calif. - A family is devastated and says a 12-year-old boy was at "the wrong place at the wrong time" when he died after being struck by gunfire during a double shooting in Long Beach late Tuesday night. 

Officials with the Long Beach Police Department said the shooting was reported around 11:30 p.m. near Lewis and Hill Streets. Authorities said the preliminary investigation reveals the victims – two girls ages 13 and 14, as well as a 12-year-old boy – were walking on the sidewalk when they were approached by a vehicle with at least two suspects inside. For an unknown reason, the suspects opened fire and struck two of the victims. 

The male victim, identified by family members as Eric Gregory Brown, suffered a gunshot wound to his upper body and was taken to the hospital by Long Beach Fire Department personnel where he died from his injuries. 

Long Beach PD officials said the 14-year-old girl suffered a non-life-threatening injury to her lower body and the 13-year-old girl was not injured. 

The suspects drove away from the scene before officers arrived. Several residents in the area said they were woken up by a string of gunfire. 

"It’s kind of crazy. I just heard the shots and five minutes later, the whole block was blocked off," a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous told FOX 11. 

A GoFundMe has been created to help with Eric's funeral expenses.

Neighbors told FOX 11 investigators were conducting door knocks and canvassing home surveillance cameras to help identify the suspects' vehicle. 

A description of the suspects was not available and the department continues to investigate the shooting.