$20,000 reward offered in Long Beach arson fires during civil unrest

Photos of the suspects who threw incendiary devices into Men’s Suit Outlet in Long Beach, May 31, destroying the store and several adjacent businesses. (Credit: Long Beach Police)

A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of the individuals responsible for igniting multiple fires that destroyed several businesses in Long Beach during protests over the death of George Floyd.

“We are committed to helping businesses that were vandalized to rebuild,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “As a City, we will also continue to work on identifying the people responsible for this so that we can take action, and we need the community’s help.”

The city of Long Beach contributed $10,000 and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) contributed the initial $10,000. The city’s $10,000 expenditure for the reward was unanimously approved by the city council on July 7.

One of the fires started around 10 p.m. on May 31, at the Men’s Suit Outlet, located at 655 Pine Ave., during a period of civil unrest. Video evidence shows multiple suspects approaching the business and throwing two incendiary devices (commonly referred to as Molotov cocktails) inside the business. The ensuing fire destroyed the building and the five businesses operating out of the building. The loss due to this fire alone was estimated at $5,176,200.  

Video evidence shows the same unidentified suspects throwing incendiary devices and vandalizing Pacific Travel Insurance and Income Tax located at 951 Pine Avenue, as well as Burger King, located at 127 W. 4th St.

Anyone with information on the unidentified suspects or information on the fires was encouraged to contact Long Beach Fire Department Arson Hotline at 562-570-2582.