S IGNAL T RIBU NE Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill VOL. XL NO. 27
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
www.signaltribune.com
June 29, 2018
IN THIS ISSUE NEWS SH Council OKs budget, fees Council also enters into expansion agreement with Mercedes-Benz. Page 3
Temporary road closures to affect LB routes July 4–7 Four-day closure needed to demolish an overpass as part of the new bridge project at the port. Page 5
COMMUNITY Experts discuss issues facing military
Topics include suicide, PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.
Page 7 SHP Community Relations VP receives first Emma Summers Award Debra Russell honored by CA Independent Petroleum Association.
Page 5
Cory Bilicko | Signal Tribune
Long Beach officials conduct a press conference Monday afternoon at fire department headquarters regarding a shooting at a retirement home early that morning that claimed the life of one firefighter and left another injured, as well as injuring a resident of the facility.
Retirement-home resident charged with murder of firefighter, attempted murder and arson LBPD formally presents case to County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.
Cory Bilicko Managing Editor
S
eventeen years of serving as a firefighter had prepared Long Beach Fire Captain David Rosa for the numerous hazards associated with his job. He had spent most of his career working in the busiest stations in the city and even trained new recruits on how to be safe. However, when he and his colleagues responded to a fire alarm at a local retirement home in the ear‑ ly-morning hours of June 25, the real danger they faced was one that no one could have anticipated. As Rosa and other firefighters entered the facil‑ ity in the 600 block of East 4th Street, one of its
residents opened fire on them, shooting Rosa, his coworker Ernesto Torres and another resident of the home, killing Rosa and injuring the other two men. Rosa’s almost two decades of service and 45 years of life came to a tragic end, as he was mur‑ dered by one of the citizens he was trying to pro‑ tect. Later that day, Rosa’s body was escorted to the LA County Coroner’s Office with full honors.
A
t a press conference at Long Beach Fire De‑ partment headquarters later that afternoon, Mayor Robert Garcia said the department, community and city had lost a hero that day.
“The entire city, as well as our fire department, is mourning the loss of someone who was very dear to our community,” Garcia said. “We all know that Captain Rosa was well loved in Long Beach, amongst his peers, but also in the community as well. So, our hearts, our love and our prayers go to his family and, of course, all of his friends and the department.” The mayor also extended “thoughts and prayers” to Torres and his loved ones, “as he has to deal with this tragedy as well.” “I also want to make a note that, because of to‑ day’s incident, we have had to evacuate about 80 seniors from the building,” Garcia added. “Those see SHOOTING page 14
Fun for many, misery for some
Courtesy LBPD
PTSD-plagued combat veterans and sensitive animals are among those impacted by Fourth of July fireworks. Denny Cristales Online Editor
As the sound of war-like booms scatters throughout the atmosphere and shakes the foundation of house‑ holds nearby, Frank Macias im‑ mediately begins to get cold chills throughout his body. As his daughter describes it, sweat begins to drip from his pores, and he has no choice but to take refuge under a table or, as he did in the past, the backyard slide.
WEDNESDAYS AT 6:30 PM 2175 CHERRY AVENUE 1st Concert of the Season starts July 11 featuring:
Scot Bruce (50s)
Join us from July 11 – August 15 for live music and family fun at the annual Concerts in the Park! Food trucks and concessions will be available. For more information call 562-989-7330.
Pictured left are several thousand pounds of illegal fireworks that the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) confiscated on June 20. According to a LBPD press release, detectives conducted an investigation into the illegal possession and sales of fireworks in east Long Beach, which eventually led them to two storage facilities in Pico Rivera and Santa Fe Springs. Two individuals were detained in connection with the crime.
Outside, people are having the time of their lives celebrating the Fourth of July holiday, recording the colorful lights with their smartphones. Mean‑ while, Macias is in 1964, seemingly transported back to the explosions and familiar terrain of the Vietnam War during his youth as an Air Force member. Fireworks might seem like such a trivial topic– perhaps not one that would conjure up so much controver‑ see FIREWORKS page 15
happy 4th of July
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