ELB Resident Dies Following Assault

 

On Aug. 24, LBPD issued a release stating it’s investigating as an “undetermined death” the circumstances that led to the death of James (“Jay”) McManus, age 61, as he walked from Avenue Three Pizza (east side of Palo Verde Avenue just north of Stearns Street) to Carfax Avenue (a few blocks west of Palo Verde.)  

 

For over a week, family and friends have said on social networks that McManus was brutally assaulted, robbed of his possessions, stripped of some of his clothes and basically left to die near Carfax Avenue until a third party found him hours later and phoned police. After roughly a week in an ICU, he died on Aug. 22.

 

LBPD’s Aug. 24 release said McManus was last seen walking alone from Avenue 3 Pizza at about 10 p.m. Aug. 14 and at some point between 10 p.m. and 4:46 a.m. on Aug. 25 sustained a critical injury but “it’s [currently] unknown how he sustained the injury.” LBPD’s release said his property has all been “located” with the exception of a watch.

 

The release said officers were dispatched to the area of Stearns and Carfax to assist LBFD with a person down in the service road of Stearns Street with a critical injury to his upper body. “With the information available at the time, officers believed a potential medical emergency had occurred” but once the potential battery was reported to police, detectives began investigating. 

 

LBPD’s release stated: “Due to the unknown circumstances leading up to [McManus’] death, this incident is now being investigated by the Long Beach Police Homicide Detail” and detectives “are actively investigating all leads and are in regular communication with the man’s family.” 

 

LBPD said it’s asking “anyone who lives in the area to review their camera footage from between Aug. 14, at 10 p.m. and Aug. 15 at 4:46 a.m. for any photo/video that may have captured what occurred that night.”

 

Public social media comments swiftly derided LBPD’s description of its investigation as an “undetermined death.”  (One example on LBPD’s Facebook page:  “Undetermined death?  He was beaten to death!! I’m pretty sure someone doesn’t beat themselves in the head and steal their own belongings. Come on, LBPD! Get it together!”) 

 

Public anger spilled over into the Aug. 24 City Council meeting, when two East Long Beach residents of CD 5 (Mungo) alleged she was unresponsive to them over conditions in ELB. 

 

One said she sees drug addicts on the street and has found needles in El Dorado Park.  Another blasted Mungo along with Councilman Daryl Supernaw (CD 4 where the fatal events occurred). After saying LBPD didn’t take a report because LBFD said they weren’t needed (as the victim was unconscious and couldn’t give a response), the council podium speaker (didn’t self-identify) said “You guys did not answer emails...Supernaw, that’s your district. You said you cleaned it up. If you cleaned it up, that shouldn’t have happend.

 

“Stacy: I live in your district ... but I am disgusted. I have been sending you emails for the last year about one house. You don’t respond. I have the copies. I have the calls to your office. Clean up the city. We’re sick of it. We pay the tax dollars. You sit there and collect the paychecks. Do your damn jobs.”   

 

The photo provided by the LBPD shows McManus that night. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and dark shoes. 

 

The LBPD asks anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Homicide Detectives Ethan Shear or Jose Rodriguez at (562) 570-7244.