Shoneka Lars, a resident of Long Beach, California, and a beloved sister has tragically passed away. She was killed in a deadly incident that took the life of her uncle.
She was announced dead in a social media statement that read “Facebook family words cannot express the pain in my heart right now I lost my baby brother Donnell Crosby and my niece Shoneka Lars both were gun down this morning.”
What happened to Shoneka Lars?
Detectives looking into homicides are looking into a murder-suicide that happened in the 300 block of East 63rd Street on September 16, 2024. Officers were called to the 300 block of East 63rd Street at around 11:15 a.m. in reference to a shooting.
Officers found an adult female victim who had been shot in the upper torso as she lay on the ground. Officers found an adult male victim in a car shortly afterward who had upper body gunshot wounds.
After being taken by Long Beach Fire Department personnel to a nearby hospital, the female victim was pronounced dead. At the scene, it was discovered that the male victim had died.
Authorities received information that a suspected adult male escaped inside a nearby home. The police set up a perimeter. Activated, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team arrived on the scene. SWAT negotiators tried calling the subject, but they were unable to establish a connection.
Shooting in Long Beach
Officers acquired a search warrant for the home during this period. K9s and CS gas were introduced into the house by SWAT troops. When it was safe to enter, SWAT officers discovered the suspect dead inside the house with what appeared to be an upper body gunshot wound that she had caused herself. A gun was also found by the officers. The 51-year-old Long Beach resident Shoneka Lars has been confirmed as the female victim.
The 71-year-old Long Beach resident Donnell Crosby has been confirmed as the male victim. The 51-year-old Long Beach resident Christopher Barnes has been identified as the suspect. Police investigating homicides arrived on the site. It has been established that a relationship existed between the suspect and the victim. Investigations are ongoing to determine the nature of the relationship, the reason behind the shooting, and the events that preceded it.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Homicide Detectives Eric Thai or Kelsey Myers at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to your smartphone (available at the Apple app store or Google Play), or by visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.