Sunday, March 14, 2010 | Home
Reward For Info About Shooting Increases To $20,000
by Ryan ZumMallen | Long Beach News | 11.03.09 |
| Text Size:
+

A reward of $20,000 is being offered to anyone with information regarding the weekend shooting that killed 16-year old Wilson High student Melody Ross and injured two other males, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe.

The reward was originally offered as a $10,000 amount, but Knabe decided to increase the amount because authorities have announced no leads since the shooting occurred on Friday night.

“Someone needs to come forward and do the right thing and know they do not even have to identify themselves,” said Supervisor Knabe, in an e-mail to the LBPOST.com this afternoon. “This is so tragic.”

Police have released no suspect descriptions and have said there are few leads, despite the shooting occurring in front of a large crowd on a busy street following a sold-out football game between Wilson and Poly High. The Press-Telegram reported today that a fight broke out before the shooting began, but that contradicts what some Wilson students who were present during the shooting have said. One witness yesterday said that the shooter simply walked up and started firing at the ground. Melody Ross was sitting on the Ximeno Avenue curb with friends when she was struck in the torso. Two males that were also injured will recover.

Police have indicated that information is hard to come by in this situation because the crowd scattered when the shooting began. Of course, there were so many people around that it’s feasible to say that witnesses are concerned about coming forward. Either way, the search for the person who fired into a crowd outside a high school continues.

The death of Melody Ross has been a painful shock to the city, as it struggles to come to grips with the tragedy and the fact that little is known about the shooter. The outrage and thirst for justice has been heard loud and clear.

Does the death of Melody Ross mark a new era of intolerance for violent crimes in Long Beach? Personally, I think we all hope so. It is time to condemn all violent acts, as 2009 has seen the tragic deaths of other teenagers as well. A 15-year old boy was shot and killed in front of his own home in August. An 18-year old was murdered not two weeks ago. Another 18-year old was killed outside his home in mid-September. A 15-year old boy was killed outside his home in the middle of the day last January. These were just the murders of teenagers. Ross’ life was not the first to end too early in Long Beach this year.

Is the case of Melody Ross different? Absolutely. It occurred at a school, in the first place. The overwhelming show of love and support from her friends and fellow students have made this sad story impossible to ignore. It shouldn’t have happened. Teenage murders shouldn’t happen. The tragic tale of Ross’ death and details of her joyful life have brought thousands together to unite against violence, to unite against the type of person that could commit such an act.

We'll keep you updated as more information emerges.

Follow the LBPOST.com on our
Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.

Disclosure: LBPOST.com publisher Shaun Lumachi is under contract with the Office of Supervisor Don Knabe.

Comments
Click Here to Leave a Comment

JR Salazar
Crime doesn't pay. Reporting it does. Only a matter of time now.

D. Lord
I am not surprised by Don Knabe stepping up to get to the bottom of this. He is a true Champion for youth.

robin
its time to stop the violence in this city. from just this tragic event alone look at all the love it has. if we all work together we can start taking our communities back!

Artie
Somebody knows something. Possibly a substantial reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator(s) will encourage someone to come forward with information that will get a dangerous criminal off the streets. The cops say they have no leads but it's my guess that sometime soon they'll be tipped off, perhaps anonymously, as to who the perp is.

camboguy
please, SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING. IF YOU THINK THIS IS BIG IN LONG BEACH...THINK ABOUT THE CAMBO PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH. NO ONE CANT STOP THNKING ABOUT IT...I SEE PEOPLE GOINGTO THE TEMPLE PRAYING. THIS HURTS EVERYONE ESP. THE KHMER PEOPLE PLEASE I BEG SOMEONE ANYONE PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Curious
Why have the names of the males who were shot not been released? It may be very pertinent information for anyone who may be able to identify suspects. These seems quite myterious to me, and leads me to believe that more is known about the crime than the public is being told. The identities of these males may well be key to bringing informants forward.

Capster
Making the identities of the other two injured people publicly known at this time could put them at significant risk as witnesses. We have an obligation to protect those two from further harm also.

JR
Hope the police have requested the tapes from the credit union on the corner of 10th and Ximeno. There's really only two directions to flee quickly from the location of the shooting, down towards 7th and Ximeno or up towards 10th and Ximeno. In the case of the latter you run past LBS Financial Credit Union which is encrusted with video cameras. Hope they find the perps, I drive past those kids and the memorial every day on my way in to work and it breaks my heart.

Lily.Burbank
another innocent victim.. if your so angry go shhoot urself not innocent kids. seriously. i lost a little cousin kaylee alvarez you guys might have her about the two kids being ran over who left kaylee dead.<3 just catch the bastard!

Long Beach News
LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.

Ryan ZumMallen is a graduate of the CSULB School of Journalism, writing for the campus' Union Weekly newspaper and serving as Sports Editor for one year. He has written for numerous news and sports websites and magazines, as well as television experience with Fox Sports and ABC Channel 7.

Ryan's Community

Leadership Long Beach
Ryan's Archives

March, 2010

03.12.10 Family Pleads For Justice After Murder Of Long Beach Teen
03.12.10 $1,000 At Stake In Annual Spelling Bee This Weekend
03.11.10 Should Measure T Be Placed On The Ballot Again?
03.11.10 Rally Planned To Promote Peace In Face Of Long Beach Violence
03.11.10 Submerged Woman Rescued After Driving Off Long Beach Bridge
03.10.10 Long Beach Unemployment Back Up To 14.5%
03.10.10 Six Injured, Traffic Slowed In 710 Freeway Accident
03.10.10 Long Beach Passes Medical Marijuana Ordinance
03.10.10 \"Long Beach Reads One Book\" Literacy Event Still Going Strong
03.09.10 Police Chief McDonnell Meets With Long Beach Latino Leaders
03.08.10 Debating Season In Full Swing Tonight
03.08.10 Two Dead In Long Beach \"Pack Rat\" House Fire
03.08.10 Success In A Freakonomy, Part V: Put Your Net to Work
03.05.10 UPDATE: Three Shot In Attempted Bank Robbery In Long Beach
03.05.10 High-Ranking Port Employee Leaving To Start Law Firm
03.05.10 Mayor Bob Foster Appointed By Governor To Electricity Board
03.04.10 Long Beach Teachers & Tom Morello Rally For Public Education
03.04.10 Update: Search For New Long Beach Fire Chief To Include Candidates Across California
03.03.10 Urban Basketball Court Among New Long Beach Park Projects
03.03.10 Long Beach Art Museums To Participate In Getty Exhibit
03.03.10 Citywide Reading Program Led By \"The Soloist\" Today
03.02.10 Teachers Association To Hold Protest At Wilson High
03.02.10 Knabe Offers $5K Reward After Swastika Carved In Golf Course
03.02.10 Atlantic Avenue Organizations Receive $80k In Grant Funding
03.01.10 Wednesday: Debate Between 9th District Council Candidates

February, 2010

02.27.10 UPDATE: Tsunami Advisory Issued For Long Beach
02.27.10 UPDATE: Is The Long Beach City Manager Being Pushed Out?
02.26.10 Elementary Award Draws Eye Of U.S. Education Department
02.26.10 Kogi BBQ Truck Heading To Long Beach Tonight
02.25.10 Malaria Documentary To Debut At Art Theatre Tonight

Show All Archives


About Us | Contact Us | Policies