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Long Beach taco truck worker beaten, robbed in violent confrontation

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Long Beach taco truck worker beaten, robbed in violent confrontation

A man recalls the terrifying moment he was beaten and robbed while working at his family’s taco truck in Long Beach — the second time they’ve now been targeted.

The victim, Erick Flores, was working at the Los Bros Tacos truck located on Junipero Avenue and 7th Street when two suspects suddenly approached him on Thursday, May 2.

“They crossed the street and came walking up,” Flores recalled. 

One male suspect was wearing a black hoodie and the other was wearing a red hoodie as Flores, who worked as a cashier in front of the food truck, spotted them.

As the man in the black hoodie began ordering food, that’s when his accomplice made his move.

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“The guy with the red sweater ended up grabbing my hand and was struggling to get the money out,” Flores said.

  • Two male suspects seen on security camera about to rob the Los Bros Tacos Truck in Long Beach on May 2, 2024. (Los Bros Tacos)
  • Two male suspects seen on security camera about to rob the Los Bros Tacos Truck in Long Beach on May 2, 2024. (Los Bros Tacos)
  • Erick Flores was left bloodied and with a broken nose after being beaten and robbed by two men on May 2, 2024 in Long Beach. (GoFundMe)
  • The Los Bros Tacos truck in Long Beach, California. (KTLA)
  • Erick Flores was left bloodied and with a broken nose after being beaten and robbed by two men on May 2, 2024 in Long Beach. (KTLA)
  • Manuel Antonio working at the Los Bros Tacos truck in Long Beach, California. (KTLA)
  • Erick Flores and a coworker outside of the Los Bros Tacos truck in Long Beach, California. (KTLA)
  • The Los Bros Tacos truck in Long Beach, California. (KTLA)
  • Erick Flores and a coworker outside of the Los Bros Tacos truck in Long Beach, California. (KTLA)

Surveillance video captured the tense confrontation as Flores tried to fend off the robbers. As he yanked his hands away, that’s when the thieves knocked Flores to the ground and repeatedly punched him in the face.

“I remember he was screaming at me but I don’t actually remember what he was saying,” Flores said, still stunned. “Everything happened so fast.”

Flores’ coworker, Manuel Antonio, noticed the commotion and stepped into action. He was able to chase the suspects away but not before the men escaped with the money and some cash from Flores’ pocket.

He was left with a broken nose and was found bloodied and bruised by his coworkers.

Antonio can relate to Flores’ experience as he was also robbed at gunpoint and beaten while working the Los Bros Taco truck back in December 2023. The truck had only been serving the Long Beach location for two months back then.

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  • Surveillance video captured masked thieves storming into the Los Bros Tacos truck on Dec. 16, 2023 in Long Beach. (Los Bros Tacos)
  • Surveillance video captured masked thieves storming into the Los Bros Tacos truck on Dec. 16, 2023 in Long Beach. (Los Bros Tacos)
  • The Los Bros Tacos Truck in Long Beach. (KTLA)
  • The Los Bros Tacos Truck in Long Beach. (KTLA)
  • The Los Bros Tacos Truck in Long Beach. (KTLA)

“This was our dream goal to start a business and flourish as a family,” Flores said of his family’s truck.

Flores was filling in for his mother on the night he was attacked. He said he was relieved it was him who was there instead and that he is alive.

However, after the violent incident, the family said serving the Long Beach community has taken a toll and is considering whether the city is the best place for their future.

A GoFundMe page created to help Flores with medical bills and to replace the stolen money can be found here.

The suspects remain at large as police continue investigating the incident. Anyone with information can call Long Beach police at 562-570-7260.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach

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Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach

A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing the street on Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach.

On June 3, the female pedestrian was using the crosswalk at Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue around 4:50 a.m.

She had walked against a red light and was hit by a 19-year-old driver in a Chevy sedan, Long Beach police said.

Despite lifesaving efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach on June 3, 2026. (Long Beach Police Department)

“At this time, impaired driving, distracted driving and excessive speed are not believed to be a factor in this collision,” police said.

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The woman’s name is being withheld pending identification by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information on the incident is asked to call Detective Joseph Johnson at 562-570-7355. 

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

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Man wanted for deadly Los Angeles road rage shooting extradited from Mexico

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Man wanted for deadly Los Angeles road rage shooting extradited from Mexico

A man wanted for a deadly road rage shooting in Los Angeles was arrested and extradited from Mexico after fleeing the U.S. in 2024.

The suspect was identified as Christian Rojas, 21, of Bellflower, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Authorities had been searching for him since the deadly incident on October 10, 2024. 

Rojas and a second suspect, Joshua Rojas Sr., 47, of Downey, were driving on the northbound 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights around 4 p.m. when they became involved in an altercation with another driver that escalated into a shooting.

  • Video obtained exclusively by KTLA shows the terrifying moment a road rage suspect opened fire the driver of another car on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles, fatally wounding him and seriously injuring a passenger, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Credit: @hugoboss01)
  • Video obtained exclusively by KTLA shows the terrifying moment a road rage suspect opened fire the driver of another car on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles, fatally wounding him and seriously injuring a passenger, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Credit: @hugoboss01)
  • Video obtained exclusively by KTLA shows the terrifying moment a road rage suspect opened fire the driver of another car on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles, fatally wounding him and seriously injuring a passenger, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Credit: @hugoboss01)
  • Video obtained exclusively by KTLA shows the terrifying moment a road rage suspect opened fire the driver of another car on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles, fatally wounding him and seriously injuring a passenger, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Credit: @hugoboss01)
  • Christian Rojas, 21, of Bellflower, was arrested and extradited to the U.S. from Mexico on June 2, 2026, in connection with a deadly road rage shooting in Los Angeles. (California Highway Patrol)

Video of the tense confrontation showed the suspects, who were driving a Dodge Durango SUV, opening fire on two men in a Cadillac sedan. 

The shooting forced the victim to pull over abruptly. That’s when a suspect ran up to the Cadillac, opened the passenger-side door and fired several shots at close range.

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In a panic, the Cadillac driver tried to escape by making a sudden U-turn and driving against oncoming traffic. He eventually crashed head-on into several vehicles.

The suspects ditched their SUV and fled toward a freeway exit on foot. The Cadillac driver was left with serious injuries and his passenger was killed. Their identities were not released.

The incident caused a miles-long backup that left thousands of motorists stranded on the freeway for hours and authorities worked to clear the scene.

Following an extensive investigation, detectives identified the two men as the suspects involved. 

Joshua Rojas Sr. was arrested in San Bernardino on October 22, 2024, on a murder charge. He remains in custody awaiting trial.

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Meanwhile, Christian Rojas had fled the U.S. and was hiding in Mexico, detectives said. A $4.3 million bail warrant was issued for his arrest. 

“Through a coordinated international effort, investigators determined that Rojas was living in Palomo de Arriba, Mexico,” CHP officials said. “The U.S. Marshals Service worked with Mexican state police to locate and arrest him on the outstanding warrant.”

On June 2, 2026, Christian was arrested and extradited to the U.S. to face a murder charge. 

“This arrest demonstrates that time and distance will not shield violent offenders from justice,” said CHP Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris. “For nearly two years, our detectives remained relentless in their pursuit of those responsible for this senseless act of violence. Through exceptional collaboration with the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in Mexico, we located and apprehended this suspect and brought him back to face the charges. We remain committed to protecting the public, supporting victims and their families, and holding violent criminals accountable wherever they may try to hide.”

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NB 405 Freeway closed near LAX after pursuit ends in gunfire

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NB 405 Freeway closed near LAX after pursuit ends in gunfire

The northbound 405 Freeway will remain closed for several hours near Los Angeles International Airport after a police pursuit ended with officers opening fire Friday morning. Unconfirmed reports indicated the incident began with a robbery at a 7-Eleven store, which ended with Los Angeles Police Department officers pursuing the suspect in a Kia. The chase […]

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