Crime & Safety

DA Charges Two Men in 2012 Gang-Related Murder

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office filed one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder against two men, both of whom are in custody on unrelated charges.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office filed murder charges Thursday against two Long Beach gang members in connection with the July 2012 murder of 21-year-old Long Beach resident Ajay Steward.

Steward was shot and killed in the 1200 block of Ohio Avenue after becoming involved in a confrontation that was later determined to have been a gang fight that escalated into a shooting.  

The District Attorney filed one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder against both defendants, with gang and gun enhancements. 

The two were identified as Jorge Armando Samniego, 24, and Gustavo Castaneda Garcia, 25, both of Long Beach.

They were in-custody on unrelated charges at the time of the filing, and were arraigned Thursday in Long Beach Superior Court.


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