The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $10,000 reward today, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, for information related to a shooting incident that led to the death of an 11-year old boy in the City of Long Beach.

On Sunday, March 16, 2008, Jose Luis Garcia Bailey, 11, was standing with a group of three other individuals in front of a residence at 2024 East 15th Street in Long Beach across the street from where he lived. The four of them were talking when two males approached on foot and started shooting. Jose was fatally shot.

No one has yet been arrested in this case. The victim is not a gang member, but police believe the suspects are gang members. Investigators also believe it would be beneficial to offer a reward in this case, which may prompt reluctant witnesses to come forward and provide information to identify the individual(s) responsible for this crime.

It is important for the County of Los Angeles to display its resolve in protecting innocent citizens from appalling crimes, said Supervisor Knabe. In order to bring these suspects to justice, and demonstrate our intolerance to such deplorable crimes, I believe this reward should be established, hoping someone will come forward so that we can bring these suspects to justice.

Any person having any information related to the March 16 incident is asked to contact Detectives Russ Moss or Terri Hubert of the Long Beach Police Department – Homicide Division at (562) 570-7244.