Long Beach police search for hit-and-run driver who killed employee after robbing store

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Police in Long Beach continued to search for a hit-and-run driver who they said fatally struck a liquor store employee who had been hanging onto his vehicle as he fled after robbing the store.

It happened around 10:40 p.m. Thursday in the 300 block of West Anaheim Street.

"In his efforts to stop the thief, he climbed on the hood of the suspect's vehicle,'' the Long Beach Police Department reported.

"The suspect drove with the pedestrian on the hood for approximately three blocks before maneuvering the vehicle to get the pedestrian off the hood.''

The man fell onto the eastbound lanes of Anaheim Street, and the driver of a utility van stopped to render aid, police believe. Initially, investigators thought the utility van struck the suspect and drove away.

When officers arrived on the scene, "they located a male adult laying in the eastbound lanes of Anaheim Street just west of Magnolia Avenue.''

Long Beach investigators are now calling this a murder investigation.

The victim, identified as Victor, a man in his 50's, lost his life trying to catch a thief stealing white socks and t-shirts from his convenience store. 

“His actions just show you the kind of guy he was to risk his life for this store so that should sum it all up about him,” said loyal customer Shaun Evans.

“My friend go outside, 10 minutes, somebody says your friend died. No good for me. The guy driving the car, Victor jump on the car, on top,” stated Cedar Liquor employee Miguel Rodriguez.

The suspect's vehicle was described as a silver four-door sedan, driven by a Black man about 40 years of age, about 5-feet-7 inches tall, with a thin build, short dark hair and mustache. He was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call police at 562-570-7355. Anonymous tips may be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS.