Jordan Mosby, 19, Fatally Shot in Long Beach as Suspect Remains at Large; Community Mourns Promising Teen Killed in Late-Night Ambush

LONG BEACH, CA —
Jordan Mosby never got the chance to run. While others fled into the night, he lay on the pavement bleeding from a gunshot wound to the chest. Just 19 years old, his life was taken in a burst of violence that continues to haunt the Long Beach community days later. The shooting occurred late Tuesday night near the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Locust Avenue—a part of the city often buzzing with movement, but now marked by tragedy.

Police responded to the call at approximately 11:40 p.m., discovering Mosby gravely wounded. Officers attempted life-saving measures on scene, but the severity of his injuries proved insurmountable. He was pronounced dead shortly after. No arrests have been made. No suspects have been identified. No motives have been confirmed. What remains is an expanding circle of grief, unanswered questions, and a community waiting in painful silence.

A Life Cut Short

Jordan Mosby was more than a name in a police report. He was a young man on the brink of adulthood, just beginning to step into the world. Friends describe him as thoughtful, gentle, and charismatic. Family members recall his deep love for music, his loyalty, and his quiet determination to build a meaningful future.

“Jordan wasn’t in the streets,” said a family friend, speaking anonymously for safety. “He was figuring life out. He loved his people and had a good heart. He didn’t deserve this.”

Mosby grew up in Long Beach, a city rich in culture but marred, like many urban areas, by rising gun violence. He had recently spoken to relatives about pursuing work in digital media and recording his own music—hopes and plans now tragically extinguished.

The Night of the Shooting

The events leading up to the shooting remain unclear. What is known, according to Long Beach Police Department officials, is that a burst of gunfire erupted late Tuesday near a small cluster of businesses and apartments along Pacific Coast Highway. Witnesses reported seeing a small group of individuals—three or four—run from the scene immediately after shots were fired.

Jordan Mosby, however, did not flee.

When officers arrived, they found him unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the chest. Blood pooled around his body on the concrete. CPR was performed and paramedics were summoned immediately, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead on site at 11:57 p.m.

Police cordoned off the area with yellow crime scene tape stretching across sidewalks, parking lots, and storefronts. Shell casings were recovered. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses is under review, but no suspect description has been released to the public.

“We are actively investigating this case as a homicide,” said LBPD spokesperson Sgt. Alisha Thompson. “At this time, we cannot provide information regarding a motive or potential suspects. We urge anyone who witnessed the incident or has any knowledge to come forward.”

A City on Edge

The killing sent shockwaves through Long Beach’s Central District—a place that has, in recent years, grappled with surges in gun-related incidents. Residents report heightened anxiety and sorrow, particularly in neighborhoods already struggling with poverty, housing instability, and lack of youth resources.

“I’ve lived here for over 25 years,” said a local business owner who asked to remain unnamed. “This never gets easier. Another young person. Another mother’s child. Another future stolen.”

Public memorials began springing up within hours. A small candlelight vigil was held the following night near the site of the shooting. Friends and family left messages on poster boards and lit candles around a framed photo of Mosby smiling with friends. Bouquets of flowers, handwritten notes, and bottles of water surrounded the area where he died.

An Outpouring of Grief and Support

Online, tributes to Mosby have multiplied, particularly on social media platforms and through digital memorial sites. One such page, created by friends under the hashtag #JusticeForJordan, features photographs, memories, and calls for accountability.

“Jordan had so much love to give,” one post reads. “We can’t let him be just another statistic.”

Another tribute, shared by a cousin, states:

“We were just talking about what we wanted to do this summer. I can’t believe you’re gone. You were just a kid, and now I have to light a candle for you instead of laughing with you.”

The website https://phizat.org/jordan-mosby was also launched to honor his memory, featuring a growing collection of stories, messages, and photographs that paint a picture of a young man who meant the world to those who knew him.

Ongoing Investigation

As of this writing, detectives have not announced any leads. They are reviewing security footage from nearby businesses and speaking to individuals who were in the area at the time. Police have asked residents to check their surveillance cameras or mobile recordings and to submit any potentially relevant evidence anonymously if needed.

The Long Beach Police Department is being assisted by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, which confirmed Mosby’s cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest. Toxicology results are pending but are not believed to be relevant to the cause or manner of death.

“We need the community’s help,” said Sgt. Thompson. “Even small details—a vehicle, a face, a noise—could be the key to solving this crime.”

A reward for information leading to an arrest has not yet been announced, but advocacy groups are already in discussions with local officials to establish one.

Violence Among Youth: A Disturbing Trend

Jordan’s death is not an isolated incident. Across Southern California, gun violence involving young victims has seen a troubling rise in the past year. Experts point to a combination of factors: economic instability, social disconnection, easy access to firearms, and a lack of intervention programs tailored to youth.

“We are watching a generation lose hope—and lose life,” said Dr. Renee Wallace, a community violence prevention advocate. “Jordan Mosby should be graduating college, not being buried.”

Long Beach city officials have pledged to invest in community-based safety strategies, but many residents feel the changes are not happening fast enough.

“We need to protect our kids before the bullets fly,” said one local pastor. “Not after.”

A Community Left to Grieve

In the days since Jordan’s death, his absence is felt deeply by friends, family, and neighbors. His mother has not spoken publicly but is being supported by relatives and spiritual leaders in private mourning. Family members are reportedly planning a public memorial and funeral service, the details of which will be shared in the coming week.

Meanwhile, candles continue to burn on PCH and Locust, where Jordan fell. Messages like “Rest easy, Lil Bro” and “You mattered” scrawl across walls and poster boards. His image—smiling, young, vibrant—is taped to a tree beside a growing mound of tributes.

This is the reality Jordan Mosby leaves behind: a mother’s grief, a neighborhood’s sorrow, and an entire city struggling to make sense of another young life lost too soon.

How to Help

The family has asked for privacy during this time but is accepting donations through an official GoFundMe organized by a verified family member for funeral expenses and to support local youth organizations in Jordan’s name.

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact the Long Beach Police Department’s Homicide Detail at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips can be submitted through LA Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or via their website.