Two men were found dead inside a Long Beach home early Saturday, October 17, 2026, after one of them exchanged gunfire with police officers, sparking a Long Beach police standoff that ended with a SWAT team forcing its way into the residence. The Long Beach Police Department said the incident began around 1:45 a.m. in the 3700 block of Gardenia Avenue in the city’s California Heights neighborhood.
How the Standoff Began
Officers were dispatched to the 3700 block of Gardenia Avenue, near Cherry Avenue and Bixby Road, after a caller reported hearing two shots fired from a nearby residence, according to the Long Beach Police Department. The call came in around 1:45 a.m. Saturday.
Shortly after arriving, officers made contact with an adult male suspect who was inside the home. According to a police statement, the man threatened to shoot the officers. The officers retreated to a safe distance and called for backup.
But the situation escalated before help could arrive. Police said the suspect fired shots at the officers, and one officer fired back. The unidentified man then remained inside the residence, refusing to come out, and police requested the department’s SWAT team.
SWAT Entry Ends With Two Dead
The SWAT team eventually made its way into the home, ending the standoff. Once inside, officers found two men dead, both with gunshot wounds to the upper body, the department said in a statement. Authorities have not released the identities of either man.
Police recovered multiple firearms and other evidence from inside the residence. No officers were injured in the incident, the department confirmed.
“At this time, the circumstances for each decedent’s death remain under investigation,” police said in the statement, as reported by MyNewsLA and the Los Angeles Times.
What Investigators Still Don’t Know
Several critical details have not yet been made public. Authorities have not said who the two deceased men were, how they were related to each other, or which shots proved fatal. Long Beach police also did not respond to questions about whether officers fired their weapons during the SWAT team’s entry into the home.
What is known is that the officers involved were equipped with body-worn cameras. The department said it is reviewing the footage and will make it available to the public as soon as possible, a step that should clarify the sequence of events inside the house.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the Long Beach Police Department at 562-570-7244. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at lacrimestoppers.org.
A Quiet Neighborhood, a Violent Night
California Heights is a residential neighborhood in Long Beach known for its historic homes and quiet streets, making the early-morning gunfight and hours-long standoff a jarring event for the area. The standoff followed a pattern seen in other barricade situations: a threat, a tactical retreat, and a slow, deliberate operation aimed at resolving the crisis without further bloodshed.
Still, two men are dead, and until investigators release more information, the community is left with the central unanswered question: what happened inside that house on Gardenia Avenue before, during, and after the shots were fired?
Featured image: A City of Long Beach police vehicle at night (file photo). Photo via Long Beach Pulse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Long Beach police standoff happen?
The standoff took place in the 3700 block of Gardenia Avenue, near Cherry Avenue and Bixby Road, in the California Heights neighborhood of Long Beach, California.
When did the incident occur?
Officers were dispatched around 1:45 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026, after a caller reported hearing two shots fired from a nearby residence.
How many people died?
Two men were found dead inside the home after the SWAT team made entry. Both had gunshot wounds to the upper body. Their identities have not been released.
Were any police officers injured?
No. The Long Beach Police Department confirmed that no officers were injured during the shooting or the standoff.
Did the suspect shoot at police?
Yes. Police said the suspect fired shots at officers after threatening to shoot them, and one officer fired back before the SWAT team was called in.
What weapons were found?
Police recovered multiple firearms and other evidence from inside the residence, but have not released a detailed inventory.
How did the standoff end?
The department’s SWAT team eventually made its way into the home, where officers discovered the two deceased men. Police have not said whether any shots were fired during the entry.
Will the body camera footage be released?
The department said officers were equipped with body-worn cameras and that it is reviewing the footage, which will be made available to the public as soon as possible.
How can the public help the investigation?
Anyone with information is urged to call the Long Beach Police Department at 562-570-7244, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 800-222-8477 or lacrimestoppers.org.
