The Long Beach Police Department says a person has been arrested in connection with a yearsold murder that happened at a homeless encampment.
On Wednesday, homicide detectives arrested 47-year-old Andrew Reyna after identifying him as the suspected gunman who shot and killed Samuel Villalba in January 2021.
Villalba, 64 at the time of his death, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso at a homeless encampment on the 2300 block of East 68th Street near the 91 Freeway. Authorities said Villalba was homeless and was living at the encampment.
Witnesses told investigators that they saw at least two men fleeing the scene on foot toward Cherry Avenue, but an arrest was never made.
But the investigation remained ongoing and, years later, detectives were able to identify Reyna as the prime suspect.
Officers from LBPD’s Special Investigations Division served a search warrant at a motel in Lynnwood where they found Reyna and took him into custody.
He’s since been booked into jail to await charges for murder. His bail was set at $2 million. Â
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, but police at the time said it was believed to be gang-related.
Anyone with information about the killing of Samuel Villalba is urged to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Oscar Valenzuela or Leticia Gamboa at 562-570-7244
Anonymous tips can be submitted online or by calling 800-222-8477.
