Homicide Report > Ariel Perez, 21
Ariel Perez, 21
Died Feb. 8, 2008 at 4:53 p.m.
Ariel Perez, 21, a Latino man, was fatally shot in an apparent home invasion at 250 W. Seaside Way in Long Beach about 4:38 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8.
Officers with the Long Beach Police Department responded to a 911 call at the complex. Upon arrival, officers discovered Perez with gunshot wounds; he was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.
According to police, a 26-year-old condo complex resident was inside his home when he discovered someone trying to break in through the window. The resident dialed 911, armed himself, then fired several shots, later telling police he feared for his life, authorities said. Long Beach police detectives are investigating.
Update: The Los Angeles Police Department has identified the condominium resident as Officer Rodney Williams, 26. According to authorities, Williams was off duty and in his home when he was awakened by someone trying to break in.
Williams left his room to retrieve his weapon and upon returning confronted Perez and shot him several times, authorities said. The investigation is being handled by LAPD's Force Investigation Division, which is responsible for investigating incidents involving the use of deadly force by an LAPD officer.
- Neighborhood: Long Beach
- Age: 21
- Gender: Male
- Cause: Gunshot
- Day of the week: Friday
- Agency: Long Beach PD
- Race/Ethnicity: Latino
- Crime scene: Residence
14 reader comments about Ariel Perez
MI HERMANO TUBO UNA MUERTE BRUTAL ESPERO Y ALGUN DIA DIOS PERDONE A SU ACECINO
March 2, 2010 at 3:30 p.m.
Looks like Mr. Perez made some really bad decisions in his life.
He was breaking the law, and good for the off duty officer for stopping him from committing other crimes.
March 2, 2010 at 5:14 p.m.
syscom3.
Please show some respect and decentcy for the murdered,I think the violence in California is dreadfull. Its like O.J LIVES on every street corner. I feel sad for the residents .the hard working americans trying to live a peacefull happy life..I just dont get it..you live in a beautiful state ..but its tainted by blood stained streets..
my heart goes out to homicide victims and their friends and family that lost them..
noone is perfect.we all made mistakes we wish we could take back..
we all act impulsively,we crave a cup of wildside now and then.
and pray we make it home safely..
life is a gamble,battle,and struggle.. if we wake up tomorrow we are the lucky ones?
March 5, 2010 at 12:43 a.m.
Dear Ms. Lolita,
The murderer put himself in the line of fire. He was breaking the law at the time he was shot! He dose not deserve respect.
March 5, 2010 at 4:56 a.m.
Why should I feel any sympathy for a person who decided to steal from other people?
Mister Perez decided to be a criminal and take things that weren't his. It was his choice, and he alone is repsonsible for his own death.
March 5, 2010 at 11:39 a.m.
I have been reading this "crime blog" for a while, and I must say syscom3 I agree with just about every word you say.
The comment in spanish says "my brother died a brutal death, I hope someday god forgives his murderer/killer"...He was commiting a crime and thankfully he is not costing the tax payers any more money with court & jail.
Jan. 29, 2011 at 3:20 p.m.
@Red Kern:
Yep and that you consider "taxpayer money" more important than a life just shows how much you appreciate a human life. Not at all.
$$$ are more important.
Jan. 31, 2011 at 12:37 p.m.
Red Kern and Syscom3, since you both appeared to be so concern where your tax dollars are going, why don't you comment on the millions of dollars of tax payers money that goes to the families of the victims killed by cops?
Feb. 1, 2011 at 2:48 p.m.
Jag, because this individual was committing a home invasion attack and was lawfully stopped before he could hurt someone.
Feb. 1, 2011 at 9:10 p.m.
It appears from this story that Ariel was served an immediate dose of justice. The killer of Ariel (isn't that a girl's name?) is not a murderer as he was defending his home from a robbery. I can sympathize with Red's comments about taxpayer $$$. No money wasted on trial or incarceration - it was Ariel’s decision to rob someone and it our decision to be satisfied that taxpayer resources won't be wasting on him any longer.
Lolita: What the heck were you trying to say? Spelling and grammar lessons would dramatically help your communication skills. Your OJ reference is laughable and makes about as much sense as the rest of your “blood stained” ramblings.
Feb. 2, 2011 at 11:06 a.m.
To Marley, for your general information the name Ariel is a unisex name. Infact, this name has been given to males in Latin America & Europe for decades. Not until Disney made an animated movie is that common folks like you associate it as feminine name. As for all of you using the "tax payer" card to excuse cops killing people that argument holds no merit because the same logic can be applied .
Feb. 3, 2011 at 12:07 p.m.
believe what you want but no one has the right to take any ones life and being that this man was an officer he should have dealt with the situation better. not because you have a gun means you should use it. ariel was unarmed and the officer used excessive force! and for me this man should not have a gun or be an officer...it's people like that who make me fear the authorities when i should feel safe.
June 9, 2011 at 6:56 p.m.
Jazmin, if someone breaks into your home, you don't have to ask questions or play nice. You don't have to wait and see if he has a gun or what his intentions are. I understand that you may have known a different side of him versus the criminal side. Ariel chose to break into someone's home to take what didn't belong to him. The officer was justified in protecting himself in his own home. Ariel was not owed a thing based on his own choices. I feel for his family as I'm sure they miss him. And in case you are wondering, no I'm not a cop, just a citizen whose sick of criminals.
June 11, 2011 at 10:09 p.m.
Jazmin,
What the hell some strange man breaks into my home in the middle of the night you bet your bottom dollar that I am going to stop him one way or another before he even can process the thought that he is going to subdue me! I am not going to talk this criminal into slowly leaving the same way he came in. He is going to stop one way or another he is not getting the chance to make another move towards me. As for you not trusting law enforcment, considering the fact that this was your brother...that statement does not superise me. On the other hand...ME not trusting someone breaking into my home works both ways.
June 11, 2011 at 10:40 p.m.
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