A 17-year-old Lakewood youth was charged as an adult Tuesday for the shooting death of a 20-year-old Hawaiian Gardens man, who was gunned down in East Long Beach earlier this month, authorities said.
The defendant, Tyrell Ainsworth, was arrested by Long Beach police last week and was formally charged with one count of murder and one count of personal use of a firearm at the Long Beach Superior Court Tuesday afternoon, said Shiara Davila, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Because Ainsworth was charged as an adult he faces the possibility of a life term in prison, she said.
Long Beach homicide investigators began looking into the case when the body of the victim, James Antonio Withers, was found in the 2300 block of Vuelta Grande around 1:05 a.m. on Feb. 7 after residents reported a person lying in the street.
The victim was shot in the upper body, police said, but not much more was released.
Police announced on Tuesday the arrest of a 17-year-old Lakewood boy for the killing.
The teen was arrested in connection with the slaying on Friday, said Sgt. Dina Zapalski, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman.
Zapalski said the investigation revealed Withers and the suspect were acquaintances and that they had attended a function outside of Long Beach prior to the shooting.
The shooting happened after the two young men went to the Eastside neighborhood and got into an argument, Zapalski said.
Police declined to say what the argument was about or why the pair were in the normally quiet area just blocks from El Dorado Park.
Police declined to identify the suspect, citing his status as a juvenile.
Prosecutors, however, decided Tuesday to direct file the case and charged Ainsworth as an adult, Davila said.
The arraignment, which began Tuesday afternoon, was postponed until March 9, she said.
Ainsworth, meanwhile, will be held without bail at the Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Center in Downey.
The defendant, Tyrell Ainsworth, was arrested by Long Beach police last week and was formally charged with one count of murder and one count of personal use of a firearm at the Long Beach Superior Court Tuesday afternoon, said Shiara Davila, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Because Ainsworth was charged as an adult he faces the possibility of a life term in prison, she said.
Long Beach homicide investigators began looking into the case when the body of the victim, James Antonio Withers, was found in the 2300 block of Vuelta Grande around 1:05 a.m. on Feb. 7 after residents reported a person lying in the street.
The victim was shot in the upper body, police said, but not much more was released.
Police announced on Tuesday the arrest of a 17-year-old Lakewood boy for the killing.
The teen was arrested in connection with the slaying on Friday, said Sgt. Dina Zapalski, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman.
Zapalski said the investigation revealed Withers and the suspect were acquaintances and that they had attended a function outside of Long Beach prior to the shooting.
The shooting happened after the two young men went to the Eastside neighborhood and got into an argument, Zapalski said.
Police declined to say what the argument was about or why the pair were in the normally quiet area just blocks from El Dorado Park.
Police declined to identify the suspect, citing his status as a juvenile.
Prosecutors, however, decided Tuesday to direct file the case and charged Ainsworth as an adult, Davila said.
The arraignment, which began Tuesday afternoon, was postponed until March 9, she said.
Ainsworth, meanwhile, will be held without bail at the Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Center in Downey.
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