Police: Man arrested in connection to fatal Long Beach shooting

Ronnie Sutton is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

Kevin Vesey

Apr 20, 2023, 4:42 PM

Updated 534 days ago

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Police say they have made an arrest in the fatal shooting of a man in Long Beach.
According to police, Ronnie Sutton, 49, of Long Beach, was arrested in connection with the April 7 homicide of Shawn Usher, who was also from Long Beach. They say it happened at a housing complex both of them frequently visit.
Officers found Usher, 33, in a parking lot near Sycamore Court with several gunshot wounds. Candles still sit in the spot where the shooting happened.
Usher, a father of 9-year-old twin boys, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators say it was a combination of surveillance video and help from the community that helped them make the arrest
Det. Capt. Stephen Fitzpatrick, of the Nassau Homicide Squad, says that Sutton and Usher had known each other and had several disagreements over the years.
"On the night of the occurrence, another dispute occurred, which began verbal and escalated to be physical," Fitzpatrick says. "During the physical altercation, Ronnie Sutton pulled out a handgun and shot Shawn multiple times, causing his death."
Long Beach Police Commissioner and Acting City Manager Ron Walsh says he hopes the arrest will bring some closure to the victim's family.
"I promised this family when I stood with them in the emergency room on the night of this incident that I would do everything in my power to bring the person responsible for this to justice," Walsh said.
The victim's aunt also spoke, saying the community needs to come together in peace.
"Both families are grieving," said Marcia Gray, the victim's aunt. "He's going to spend the rest of his life in jail. His kids, they're going to grow up without a father. My nephews are going to grow up without a father. Only thing is they can go visit him. I have to go visit mine in the grave."
Police say they also found what they believe to be the murder weapon, a semi-automatic pistol.
Gray also pleaded with the community to "put the guns away." Earlier this week, neighbors took to the street to also demand an end to gun violence.
Sutton is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Police say Sutton has 16 prior arrests, eight of them for felonies.